Learning English

Online abuse the same as face-to-face

The Director of Public Prosecutions has recommended that the UK treat online hate crime in the same way as face-to-face hate crime.

Language challenge

The UK is to consider online hate crime as seriously as hate crime meted out face to face. Meted out is a synonym for ‘gave out’, but what kinds of things do we usually mete out?

a) love or affection
b) gifts or money
c) punishment or cruelty

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The story

Prosecutors in Britain are being told to treat online hate crime as seriously as abuse meted out face-to-face.

The guidance issued by the government covers offences motivated by hostility towards people of different races, religions, sexuality, gender and disability.

The Director of Public Prosecutions said online abuse, such as threats of violence, had a ‘corrosive effect’ on society and destroyed lives

Key words and phrases

trolls
people who intentionally send annoying or insulting online messages

corrosive
causing gradual damage to something

closes (the) net
restricts the movement or activities of

To do

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Downloads

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Language challenge - answer

c) punishment or cruelty

End of Session 2

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