Police officers in Scotland are been provided training to focus on social media content, including retweets, that is considered "threatening and abusive."
According to the county’s recent crime legislation, actors and comedians are no longer exempted from facing consequences for making jokes about sensitive topics that may offend individuals.
The leaked training materials provided to law enforcement, as reported by The Herald, mandated Police officers in Scotland to pursue individuals who create content deemed “threatening and abusive,” including through public performances such as plays.
Under the updated crime law, individuals can be prosecuted for mocking or misidentifying transgender individuals, making racially insensitive jokes, criticizing specific religions, or disparaging migrants.
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The crime law further elaborates on the various methods through which an individual can convey material to another individual. This includes displaying, publishing, or distributing material, such as on signs, websites, blogs, podcasts, or social media platforms either directly or indirectly through sharing content from a third party. It also encompasses traditional printed media like magazines or leaflets.
Moreover, the law specifies that actions like giving, sending, showing, or playing material to another person are considered as well. Examples cited include online streaming, sending material via email, playing a video, or presenting material through a public performance like a play.
This means that sharing a joke heard online, displaying a provocative meme or commentary related to transgender individuals or mass migration during a livestream, or any similar act can lead to legal repercussions, including potential arrest by Police officers in Scotland.
