Call for laws to stop online abuse

SOCIAL media firms have failed to tackle online child abuse, grooming and bullying, a children’s charity has said.

The NSPCC has called on the government to create new laws forcing internet giants such as Facebook and Twitter to do more to stop the rising problem.

NSPCC bosses have set out a three-step ‘rulebook’, which they want enforced by independent regulators.

It would mean ‘safe accounts’ with the highest privacy settings for under-18s, grooming and bullying notifications for youngsters being targeted and child safety moderators employed by all networks.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said leaving sites to make up their own rules was unacceptable and, adding: “Enough is enough.

“We need legally enforceable universal safety standards that are built in from the start.”