Justice secretary Chris Grayling has called for a crackdown on 'internet trolling' in the UK, dubbing online abusers as "cowards".
The government official is backing previously-proposed legislation to quadruple jail sentences for those who send threatening messages on social media, increasing terms to up to two years.
"These internet trolls are cowards who are poisoning our national life," Grayling told the Mail on Sunday.
"No-one would permit such venom in person, so there should be no place for it on social media. That is why we are determined to quadruple the current six-month sentence."
He added: "This is a law to combat cruelty - and marks our determination to take a stand against a baying cyber-mob. We must send out a clear message: if you troll you risk being behind bars for two years."
Grayling's remarks follow a series of high-profile cases of internet trolling, including chilling rape threats against model Chloe Madeley just last week.
An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill aiming to send cases of cyber bullying to crown courts - and increase maximum sentences from six months to two years - was tabled in March by Angie Bray MP.
The proposed legislation is currently passing through Parliament.
The government official is backing previously-proposed legislation to quadruple jail sentences for those who send threatening messages on social media, increasing terms to up to two years.
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"These internet trolls are cowards who are poisoning our national life," Grayling told the Mail on Sunday.
"No-one would permit such venom in person, so there should be no place for it on social media. That is why we are determined to quadruple the current six-month sentence."
He added: "This is a law to combat cruelty - and marks our determination to take a stand against a baying cyber-mob. We must send out a clear message: if you troll you risk being behind bars for two years."
Grayling's remarks follow a series of high-profile cases of internet trolling, including chilling rape threats against model Chloe Madeley just last week.
An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill aiming to send cases of cyber bullying to crown courts - and increase maximum sentences from six months to two years - was tabled in March by Angie Bray MP.
The proposed legislation is currently passing through Parliament.