Facebook over online abuse

at public figures online on a regular basis.

Facebook says that public representatives are not covered under the “full protection of our bullying policy”.

Ms Noone alluded to a particularly abusive comment made to her online which alluded to rape, asking: “do you think it’s acceptable to have personal comments made that are viciously offensive to public representatives, regardless of freedom of speech, which I’m acutely aware of ?”

Head of policy Siobhan Cummiskey said that Facebook “doesn’t think that’s acceptable and doesn’t think that’s okay. We don’t allow any kind of jokes or threats in relation to rape”.

Ms Noone said that public figures are inundated with negativity on social media.

“Surely that should be policed in a better manner. I don’t think it’s acceptable,” she said.

“I don’t think that just because politicians are much maligned, and very unfairly so, regularly, I don’t think it’s acceptable, I just don’t.”

In response, head of public policy in Ireland Niamh Sweeney said the platform was not able to curb certain language being used online.

“It’s very difficult to deal with the issue of language, because people have the right to defend, shock and disturb,” she said. “We are limited in what we can do, because people can curse online.”