NZ Legislation Update

Harmful Digital Communications Act

The Harmful Digital Communications Bill has been passed into an Act of Parliament.

The Bill was a response to public concerns regarding cyber-bullying and harassment. As previously reported by Duncan Cotterill, the Bill creates a new criminal offence for intentionally posting digital communications which have caused harm.

During the Select Committee process, concerns were raised that the Bill could stifle free expression online and that existing criminal laws were sufficient to address the problem. In response, the Bill was amended to include the ability for a Court to impose a fine (previously, the only penalty available in the Bill was imprisonment).