united-kingdom social-media harassment
Can sending a single message on social media be considered harassment?
<p>My ex-fiancée sent me a WhatsApp message a few months back to &quot;inform&quot; me that she got married and that I should forget and forgive.</p>
<p>What I didn't know back then was that it was her second marriage in few months. She recently divorced someone and married with someone else. I found that out recently and sent her a WhatsApp message saying that I didn't know she married twice and I am disappointed in what I saw in both husbands. And I am genuinely sad for her.</p>
<p>Also I told her I will not forget or forgive her quoting the message she sent me. All of that was in 1 WhatsApp message. Afterwards, she called me and told me that she will file a complaint against me for harassment.</p>
<p>Is this considered harassment?</p>

<h2>Under UK law, <a href="https://rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-information/violence-against-women-and-international-law/harassment-and-the-law/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">harassment</a> requires at least 2 interactions</h2>
<p>So, a single WhatsApp message cannot be harassment, but 2 can be. So can 1 WhatsApp message and 1 phone call. Or 1 WhatsApp and an email. Or 1 WhatsApp and a letter. Or ... you get the idea.</p>

<p><strong>Is this considered as harassment?</strong></p>
<p> 
The offence is at s.1(1) of the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1997/40/contents" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Protection From Harassment Act 1997</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p> A person must not pursue a course of conduct— (a) which amounts to
harassment of another, and
(b) which he knows or ought to know amounts
to harassment of the other.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And s.7(3)(a) defines a &quot;course of conduct&quot; as...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>conduct on at least two occasions.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>So in answer to the question: No.</strong></p>
<p>Based on the available information, this is a one-off communication with no intent.</p>
<p>(Nor is it an offence under the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/27/contents" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Malicious Communications Act 1988</a> or any other UK legislation.)</p>
