MP attacks social media ‘day of rape’
A WELSH Labour MP has condemned an appalling social media-driven plan to hold a commemorative “day of rape” this weekend.
Alex Davies-Jones, who represents Pontypridd, said individuals appeared to be using the social media channel TikTok to organise the event.
In a letter to Elizabeth Kanter, director government relations and public policy for TikTok, Ms DaviesJones stated: “I am contacting you to raise urgent concerns around TikTok’s involvement in a worrying international day of recognition due to take place on [Saturday] April 24, which will aim to draw attention to, and possibly celebrate, rape.
“Obviously plans to commemorate and glorify this vile, abusive and disgraceful behaviour are utterly abhorrent, and must be called out at every opportunity.
“I have been shocked to read reports in my own community in Pontypridd, South Wales, of TikTok’s involvement, as I understand that organisers are using your platform to potentially drive the logistics behind the day.
“It is appalling that I may very well find myself, come April 24, having to urge women in my local area and across the country to not go outside if this event is allowed to go ahead and escalate. This is an extremely sad reality and your platform appears to be at the heart.
“I would therefore very much welcome an urgent update on the exact steps you are taking to prevent this utterly deplorable day from going ahead.”
While individuals have been posting what are supposedly screenshots from a video on TikTok that promotes the offensive “rape day”, TikTok says it has not found the purported original video on its platform.
A statement from TikTok said: “Keeping our community safe is our priority, and we do not tolerate content that promotes or glorifies non-consensual sexual acts including rape and sexual assault.
“While we have not found evidence on our platform of any videos related to this subject, our safety team is remaining vigilant and we will remove content that violates our policies.”
Exeter University has advised students to “ignore” rumours circulating on its campus that female students could face the threat of assault from a group of men in the run-up to this weekend.
A statement from the university said it “had been made aware of rumours circulating online” and believed the plans were “a hoax which originated from TikTok and has since spread around the world”.
It added that the threats were
“designed to cause fear and to play on serious and genuine concerns regarding sexual assault”.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed it was “currently making inquiries regarding the credibility of the group”.
It said the rumours were linked to the April 24 “international phenomenon”.
Falmouth University, which shares Exeter University’s Penryn campus, issued a statement which said: “We have become aware of a number of messages and social media posts circulating in relation to an abhorrent TikTok ‘24 April Hoax’ encouraging sexual violence.
“There is no evidence that reports of these posts and purported related discussions are genuine, or that there is a genuine threat, but it is clear that the issue is causing distress to our community and we therefore want to make clear that we are taking this issue seriously.
“We would strongly encourage anyone with information about individuals engaged in any such discussions to come forward and support the University, to ensure our campus remains a safe and inclusive environment and so that enquiries can be progressed.”