Parliament Street research, which revealed 19,320 incidents of cyber-bullying — including revenge porn and harassment — that were reported to the police in the UK last year, was reported in today’s copy of The Scottish Sun.
THROW THE BOOK AT THEM
Police step in to nearly 6,300 cyber-bulling incidents on Facebook last year – prompting fresh fears social media giants not doing enough to tackle abuse
Facebook were involved in 32.5 per cent of cases reported to the cops
COPS had to step in into nearly 6,300 cyber-bullying incidents on Facebook last year — prompting fresh fears the social media giants are not doing enough to tackle abuse.
Damning new research reveals 19,320 incidents of cyber-bullying — including revenge porn and harassment — were reported to the police in the UK last year.
And Facebook were involved in 32.5 per cent of cases in 2016.
Closest online rivals Twitter accounted for just 0.9 per cent of cases — despite having a market share of 5 per cent of social media use in Britain.
The research compiled by the Parliament Street think tank found Brits are 36 times more likely to be harassed on Facebook compared to any other social media sites, prompting fears the site is turning a blind eye to massive problems.
The Westminster based campaigners used Freedom of Information requests to all of Britain’s police forces.
Their shocking results revealed evidence of sexual abuse, disclosure of revenge porn aimed to blackmail 0r defraud and vicious online bullying campaigns.
The figures show that a shocking 1,730 of 1,774 online harassment cases reported in Greater Manchester last year involved Facebook.
And 708 of 772 cases in Avon and Somerset cited abuse of Facebook, and 671 of 889 cases reported in Durham involved the network.
Parliament Street’s top wonk Clare Ambrosino — who exposed the figures — said last night: “Facebook is still not doing enough to protect its users from cyber-bullying and needs to step up its game.”
She added: “Facebook is the favoured media for the very young and it is fundamental that they are kept safe.”
And social media expert Mike Rouse added: “This research shows that beneath the surface of Facebook lurks rampant criminality – we saw it in recent weeks when Facebook was exposed for failing to act on child pornography, and now we see it again as the platform is exposed as providing a safe haven for those who harass others.”
He added: “Facebook needs to give victims and agencies the right kind of tools to help fight these evils. A reporting button is no good when those who receive the reports all too often do nothing.”
Last night a Facebook spokesman said: “We take people’s safety very seriously on Facebook. However, if people feel that they could be in genuine harm we would urge them to contact the police as well.”
“Sadly there will always be malicious people who harass people both online and offline.”
They went on: “We provide reporting links on every page of our site so that people can report content to us enabling our teams to review and take quick action.”
Monday 8th May
