AN MP has called for Westminster to “toughen up” social media laws in memory of Sir David Amess, calling on politicians to ban anonymity online.
Speaking in tribute to his friend following his killing, Mark Francois proposed “David’s Law” – noting that the Southend West MP had “become increasingly concerned about what he called the toxic environment in which MPs, particularly female MPs, were having to operate”.
“I suggest that if we want to ensure that our colleague didn’t die in vain, we collectively all of us pick up the baton, regardless of our party and take the forthcoming Online Harms Bill and toughen it up markedly,” the former Conservative minister told the Commons.
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“So let’s put, if I may be so presumptuous, David’s law onto the statute book, the essence of which would be that while people in public life must remain open to legitimate criticism, they can no longer be vilified or their families subject to the most horrendous abuse, especially from people who hide behind a cloak of anonymity with the connivance of the social media companies for profit.”
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab also signalled he could support closing anonymous social media accounts to tackle online hatred.
He raised concerns that he did not want to “send a message to tyrants all over the world that they can expose” campaigners who need anonymity.
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He told Sky News yesterday: “On balance I think there is a case for really looking very carefully at this.
“I don’t see why people should be able to abuse the position on social media from a veil of anonymity.”
And this weekend, Home Secretary Priti Patel did not rule out banning anonymity on social media as part of efforts to tackle online abuse.
A poll carried out by YouGov earlier this year found that 78% of respondents across Great Britain said social media users should have to disclose their identity when they sign up. Some 37% felt people should have to display their real identity on their profile.
Just 11% of people agreed that everyone should be able to use social networks without disclosing their real identity.
Owen Jones has been one political commentator to speak out against the idea. “Politicians who routinely feed anonymous quotes to the media - to protect their own jobs and reputations - wish to ban anonymity on social media for ordinary British citizens,” the journalist tweeted this morning, alongside a graphic reading: “A horrible murder shouldn’t be used to support a cynical agenda”.
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