‘Make Twitter users give their identities’
ANONYMITY ONLY ADDS TO THE LEVEL OF ABUSE, MP SAYS
PEOPLE using social media such as Twitter should be forced to provide their details so that they can be tracked down and prosecuted if they are abusive, according to a North East MP.
Catherine McKinnell, Labour MP for Newcastle North, called for action to fight internet ‘trolls’ who spread what she called “horrendous abuse”.
And she was one of a number of MPs to make similar suggestions, as MPs debated calls to end online hatred.
Ms McKinnell highlighted a petition started by model Katie Price, which has been signed by 170,000 people, following abuse aimed at her autistic son. She is calling for people to be obliged to provide proof of their identity before opening an account. While some social media sites such as Facebook ask people to use their real names, others, such as Twitter, are happy for users to remain anonymous.
The MP said there was “a growing public concern that anonymity allows people to get away with, and, worse, encourages, horrendous abuse of a kind that would simply not be tolerated offline.”
She added: “Several studies have shown anonymity can make user behaviour more aggressive.”
The measure would not end abuse entirely, but would make many people think twice, she said. There was a similar proposal from Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who said a PayPal-style identity verification system should be required on social media platforms, ministers have been told. She said she has received abusive, racist and misogynistic messages when challenging anti-Semitism, telling the Commons: “Some are very offensive – ‘I hope she dies soon’, ‘dumb bitch’.”
Dame Margaret said: “”We must compel social media companies to be able to identify all users. We know that’s easily done. Take the online payment company PayPal. Everyone using PayPal must provide their identity when setting up an account. A user’s identity is not public but it can
be traced if required.”
DUP MP Carla Lockhart said that online platforms have emboldened people to be “nasty, vindictive, spiteful and cruel”.
She told the Commons: “Since I entered politics, I myself have been the victim of a consistent and vicious campaign of abuse. It is largely based on my appearance. When I post this video of this speech online, invariably someone will post a gif or a comment designed to hurt me.
“Sometimes this is done through anonymous accounts, sometimes real profiles. We live in a world where online platforms embolden people to be nasty, vindictive, spiteful and cruel.”
Easington MP Grahame Morris highlighted online abuse of journalists, and said journalists should be allowed to do their jobs without being targeted. Many, in particular freelancers, have experienced “vile abuse, rape and even death threats”, he said.
Women, particularly those who write about traditionally male topics such as sport, technology or gaming, are singled out for “vile abuse,” he said.
He added: “Crucially, sanctions must exist, even against the tech giants or perhaps especially against them.”