Anonymous online hate shouldn’t be allowed – Victims’ Commissioner
Call for social media firms to ensure users are identifiable
SOCIAL media users should not be allowed to post from anonymous accounts, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales has said, amid concern the practice is allowing people to abuse others online with little prospect of being identified and prosecuted.
Dame Vera Baird QC said tech giants such as Twitter and Facebook should not allow people to sign up without providing accurate identifiable information.
The call has been backed by Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage, who is hoping to stamp out hate through the Online Safety Bill.
It comes as celebrities such as England footballer and poverty campaigner Marcus Rashford and former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson were among those to have been abused repeatedly on social media in recent months.
And last week, Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of the late fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore, said the family sought to shield the centenarian from online abuse know as ‘trolling’, while the Duchess of Sussex previously described how in 2019 she was ‘the most trolled person in the entire world’.
In Portsmouth, businessman Paul Cheape had to close his vape shop Steamachine in 2018 after it was linked to false claims of paedophilia by an online bully.
‘These days it doesn’t take much for people to hound somebody,’ Mr Cheape said.
‘I genuinely feared that there was a a concerted effort, an aggressive effort, to cause significant financial damage to the business and myself.’
Following increasing incidents of online hate, Dame Vera said: ‘I think that getting rid of anonymity is fundamental to being able to enforce the law quite obviously.
‘People sit at home with a funny name and say the most horrible thing, having quite a lot of pleasure because they can’t be found – that must be the point of it, mustn’t it, to do it without any comeback.
‘It’s very unpleasant indeed and it’s imperative they be brought to justice.’
Dame Vera said there were parallels between perpetuating hateful abuse online and stalking somebody in their home.
She said people should not be prevented from using a pseudonym or humorous name, but said the user should have to provide identifying details when setting up an account which would mean they can be traced by the police should the need arise.
She said: ‘Of course you need to be able to identify people who behave like this and the Government really has to get engaged with the platforms and make sure they do make it possible to identify.’
Last week, Twitter said it would not end the practice of allowing people to post from anonymous accounts, despite a series of high-profile sports stars receiving a slew of racist abuse on social media in recent weeks.
Dame Vera was speaking following the completion of a report calling for a new law to transform victims’ rights and reposition victims as participants – rather than bystanders – in the justice system.
Ms Dinenage said: ‘All social media platforms should be working much harder to tackle abuse and hate speech.
‘The Online Safety Bill (which I’m the responsible minister for) will put a duty of care on online companies to identify and remove illegal content and have stronger protections for content that’s legal but harmful.
‘Meanwhile, the Law Commission is looking at online abuse and hate speech to recommend whether the law needs strengthening.’
Getting rid of anonymity is fundamental to being able to enforce the law
Dame Vera Baird QC
A JACKET potato business is preparing to open its new premises in Hayling Island.
Delivery service Jacket Required will welcome hungry customers at 18b Elm Grove, formerly a pharmacy.
There is not yet an official opening date, but the team behind the business hope to be open by the end of March.
Jacket Required, which was launched in May 2020, offers potatoes with a range of homemade fillings, using local produce where possible.
The business is run by Maddison Kimber, along with her sister Abbie, and Ellie Langton, their brother Liam’s girlfriend.
During the first lockdown, the team decided to form a food delivery business to serve their local community in Hayling Island.
Now, the Jacket Required team are looking forward to their new site opening, and developments at the Mengham premises are underway.
Maddie added: ‘We just hope to have the shop open soon - all electrics have been done, so’s the gas, and now it needs painting.’
The 22-year-old, a dancer, has had to overcome a number of challenges over the last few years. After winning a place at the Jonathan Wilkes Dance Academy in Swindon at the age of 18, Maddie performed in pantomimes across the country, as well as teaching dance to earn some extra cash.
However, while she was pursuing her career, the loss of Maddie’s family’s business, which had been operating for 25 years, meant that Maddie had to rely on grants to continue her progress at the academy.
Maddie’s mum also began to suffer from mental illness, and in February 2019 the family suffered a double bereavement when both of Maddie’s grandads died within four days of each other.
When the coronavirus outbreak hit the country, Maddie found her academy career suspended. Her graduation, agent appointments, and work on cruise ships and shows were all cancelled.
Despite her misfortune, Maddie picked herself up and adapted to her new situation.
Dad Dean Kimber, who came up with the business’s name, said: “A lot of people would be overcome by everything that happened, but Maddie really picked up the baton.”
Returning from Swindon to her family home in Hayling Island, Maddie began supporting her mum, as well as applying for a position at Northharbour Tesco and running remote dance classes in the evenings. The pandemic also inspired Maddie, along with Ellie, who is also 22, and Abbie, 17 - who both also work at Tesco - to launch their business.
Maddie explained: ‘We just thought food’s the best thing to do during the pandemic.’
Jacket Required also has a partnership with The Donkey Sanctuary, supports Hayling community services, and offers free deliveries to St Mary’s hospital. Dean said: ‘Since March they’ve been working the most unsociable hours. I’m massively proud of all three of them.’
We just thought food’s the best thing to do during the pandemic.
Maddie Kimber