Bill to make catfishing a criminal offence could see offenders serve up to five years in prison

Bill to make catfishing a criminal offence could see offenders serve up to five years in prison

The Bill would also enable gardaí to make data requests to social media companies for information about accounts and online interactions.

Senator aims to make catfishing criminal offence under proposed law

CATFISHING could become a criminal offence under a new Bill which aims to punish anyone impersonating another person using fake photos online. Under the proposed law, a person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, impersonates another individual online in a way that causes alarm, distress or harm, either to the impersonated person or someone else, could face up to five years in prison. The Bill would enable gardai to make direct da…

The internet has brought countless conveniences to everyday life, but it has also opened the door to increasingly sophisticated cybercrimes. With the advancement of artificial intelligence, scams that previously required greater effort from criminals can now be carried out with just a few clicks. The manipulation of voices, images and even entire conversations has raised new concerns, prompting a debate about the need for stricter laws. In light…