Internet trolls face up to two years' jail in New Zealand under a controversial new law which bans “harmful digital communications”.

新西兰出台一项尚有争议的新法案，禁止“有害数字信息”，在网上发布挑衅文字或将入狱两年。

And under a parallel amendment toNew Zealand's Crimes Act, a person who tells another to kill themselves faces up to three years in prison.

而根据新西兰同时通过的一项《刑事罪行法》修正案，怂恿他人自杀者也将面临三年监禁。

The law will help mitigate the harm caused by cyber-bullying and give victims a quick and effective means of redress, supporters said.

支持者声称，该法律将有助于减轻网络欺凌造成的伤害，是给受害者一个快速和有效的补偿手段。

But critics said the law harms free speech and its fine print could threaten public interest journalism in the country.

但批评者称该法律侵犯了言论自由，其细则可能威胁到公众利益新闻。

Under the Harmful Digital Communications Act in effect from this week, anyone convicted of “causing harm by posting digital communication” faces two years in prison and a $50,000 (NZ) (£6,500) fine, while businesses face fines of up to $200,000 (NZ).

《有害数字信息法案》从本周开始实施，所有因为“发布数字信息而造成伤害”的人都将面临两年的监禁和5万新西兰元的罚款，涉事企业则面临高达20万新西兰元的罚款。

Harmful communications can include truthful as well as false information, and “intimate visual recordings” such as nude or seminude pictures or video shared without permission.

有害信息包括真实或虚假的信息，和“亲密的视觉记录”，如未经许可共享的全裸或半裸照片或视频。

The bill was introduced after a public outcry over the horrific "Roast Busters” scandal, in which a group of teenage boys fromAucklandwas accused of sexually assaulting drunk, under age girls and boasting about the acts on social media.

该法案推出之前，公众曾对令人震惊的“Roast Busters”丑闻进行抗议。该事件中，一群奥克兰的青少年被指控对醉酒的低龄少女进行性侵并且在社交媒体上对自己的行为大肆吹嘘。

But in an editorial, New Zealand’s Dominion Post said while the law's intentions were good, it went too far and could "pick up in its drift-net the sorts of noise and criticism that make for the talk of a free society”.

但《新西兰邮报》的一篇社论认为，虽然法律的意图是好的，但规定过了线，它可能会“结束一个自由社会的各种声音和批评”。

Noting it effectively bans online communications judged “indecent”, “false” or “used to harass an individual”, the Post asked if reports on political expense scandals, or cartoons that mock religious figures, may also be banned under the legislation.

注意到该法规定所有被认定为“不雅”，“错误”或“用于骚扰他人“的网络信息都将被禁止，《新西兰邮报》提出疑问，称政治费用丑闻和嘲笑宗教人物的漫画是否也要依照该法被禁止。

The bill passed the New Zealand parliament with an overwhelming 116 to 5 majority.

该法案在新西兰议会以116比5的压倒性胜利通过。

Speaking against the bill, Greens MP Gareth Hughes said while its intent was noble, its definition of “harm" was “irresponsibly broad”, and said the law could damage journalism in the country.

绿党议员加雷斯·休斯对该法案表示反对，他表示，虽然其目的是高尚的，它定义的“伤害”是“宽泛的，不负责任的”，并称该法律可能会损害新西兰的新闻行业。

Arguing what was not an offence offline should not be an offence online, Mr Hughes criticised the fact reporters were not exempt from the legislation, which he said may prevent them publishing online the same story about a corrupt MP which would be perfectly legal to publish in a newspaper.

休斯先生认为，线下不算冒犯的言论在线上也不应该归为冒犯言论。他批评称，该法案未对记者免责，这就有可能阻止他们把一篇发在报纸上完全没问题的揭露贪腐议员的文章发布在网络上。

Vocabulary

Internet troll: 网络巨魔(在网上发表过激言论挑起争端或者激怒网友的人)

fine print: 条文，细则

indecent: 不得体的