New laws to combat online abuse such as cyberbullying and revenge porn

New criminal offences and a powerful oversight agency are being recommended to combat online abuse, such as cyberbullying and revenge porn.

The State’s legal advisory body said such abuses can have “substantial” effects on people and have been linked to “serious psychological harm and even, in extreme cases, to suicide”.

The Law Reform Commission said the digital industry here should be legally obliged to comply with a statutory code of conduct in terms of taking down offensive material from the internet.