‘It can destroy people's lives' – Sinn Féin's Nicole Ryan demands catfishing law reform
'Catfishing is is calculated, predatory and it can destroy people's lives,' stated Senator Nicole Ryan who said that vulnerable people are being scammed out of thousands of euros and individuals have been left traumatised
Catfishing occurs when an individual assumes a false identity online, often using stolen images or personal details, to deceive others into forming relationships, whether online or in person.
Victims of catfishing can fall into two categories; those who are deceived into thinking they are in a relationship with a non-existent person, and secondly, individuals whose images and personal details are stolen to create fake online identities.
Sinn Féin Senator Nicole Ryan said catfishing at its core is deception. 'Catfishing is when someone steals another person's images or identity to create a fake persona online often to trick, exploit or defraud others. While it began with a messaging or a dating app profile it frequently escalates to financial fraud and emotional manipulation. In some cases even coercive control.'
'This isn't harmless online behaviour,' said Ms Ryan. 'It is calculated, predatory and it can destroy peoples lives. We've seen headlines from high profile GAA players that have been impersonated, vulnerable people being scammed out of thousands of euros and individuals left traumatised after discovering a relationship that they believed was real actually never existed. But behind each headline is a human and some betrayed, humiliated and left sometimes to pick up the pieces.'
The Cork politician appealed for standalone legislation to be enacted which would give more power to An Garda Síochána and the court system to tackle catfishing. 'There is already current legislation that covers some of these aspects through harassment laws, fraud legislation and Coco's Law. While these laws are welcome we can't ignore the fact that catfishing is a distinct and emerging form of harm. It doesn't just fit neatly into the current legislation that we have of victims who are sometimes left without the clear path to justice.
'We believe that there is a strong case here to have this as a standalone offence that sends a clear message that online deception is not just morally wrong, but also legally wrong. It would give An Garda Síochána and the courts the clarity that they need when investigating and prosecuting these offences and it would give victims that they do deserve,' she added.
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