MP blasts social media sites for response to abuse

FACEBOOK has said it does not enforce its rules about bullying for politicians, including MPs, because they are “public figures”.

It came after Cardiff South and Penarth Labour MP Stephen Doughty shared an abusive post he had received.

He was sent a message which read: “Steven Doughty [sic], I now weigh 232 pounds, which is far too much, but I’m hoping is less than you, you fat murderous c***”.

He said he usually has to make complaints on a monthly basis, but says they are more frequent around controversial Commons votes, or if he speaks out about Brexit or US President Donald Trump.

In response to his complaint, Facebook said its content policy team had looked at the post but said that while it would “broadly speaking” be seen as bullying, it does not apply its bullying policy to public figures, including MPs.

It said: “Their [the content policy team] view is that this does not violate our policies. The type of activity you are seeing would, broadly speaking, qualify as bullying behaviour.

“However, we do not apply our bullying figures to public figures because we want to allow discourse, which often includes critical discussion of people who are featured in the news or who have a large public audience.

“However, discussion of public figures must comply with other aspects of our community standards and we will remove content about public figures that violates other policies, so including for example where it has strayed into hate speech or credible threats”.

Mr Doughty said social media sites including Twitter and Facebook were becoming “increasingly difficult”.

“I have no issue with people strongly criticising my views on any issue but I draw the line at abusive and threatening behaviour or harassment of me or my staff,” said Mr Doughty.

“Facebook and Twitter are very variable about how they respond. Sometimes swift and sensibly, other times not – as in this case.

“I was particularly shocked by their response that suggests that we should accept a higher level of abuse as public figures.

“Facebook, Twitter and the like need to get a grip and stop justifying their failures to act on abuse, harassment and online extremism – whoever it is directed at – in the name of ‘free speech.’

“The sewer that the online world is becoming has real-world consequences. Legitimising attacks and the abuse of public figures, journalists, women, Jews, Muslims and gay people and body-shaming and bullying seems to be increasingly the accepted norm – we need to fight back.”

Mr Doughty’s Labour colleague Wes Streeting has recently said he has had to reduce his use of Twitter due to abuse.

He said: “Unfortunately, Twitter has increasingly become an angry swamp to the extent that its utility is outweighed by the negativity,” he wrote.

Other Welsh politicians have backed Mr Doughty’s comments.

Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi responded saying “Sort it out @facebook @twitter” and MP for Bristol West Thangam Debbonaire said she has deleted apps for both social media sites because they do not “help constructive debate or political transparency and accountability”.

Twitter users responding to Mr Doughty’s tweet echoed that the abuse was unacceptable in the light of terror attacks and the murder of MP Jo Cox.

His comments come in the wake of a report about abuse being one of the reasons people do not enter politics.

A report by Electoral Reform Society Cymru published in July listed abuse encountered by male and female politicians.

For that, 121 politicians responded – 72 men, 47 women and two preferring not to say – who all stated they had experienced some form of abuse, discrimination or harassment in their roles. One was sent excrement through the post.