Anti-Semitism chief: bring in ASBOs for internet
The chairman of a parliamentary group on anti-Semitism has criticised Twitter for showing “a lack of will” in tackling people posting anti-Semitic abuse on the social media site.
John Mann MP, who chairs the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism, was speaking in the House of Commons on anti-Semitic abuse suffered by Luciana Berger MP, whose abuser was jailed last month.
Urging MPs to “fight back,” Mann revealed that he himself had been targeted in the aftermath of his comments last week by people posting fake comments in his name. “There has been an arrest in the past few days,” he said.
Mann went on to outline how the law could be expanded to ban harassers, and how social media companies could do more, arguing that “lack of resource is not a defence”.
He said: “Where individuals set up multiple accounts, Twitter finds it impossible to deal with that. That shows a lack of will.”
Mann also argued for expanding the law, which currently allows the banning or blocking of individuals on social media in relation to sexual offences. “This needs to be widened to all bullying and harassment on the internet,” he said.
“Why are we not using internet banning orders, ASBO equivalents for social media?” he asked. “If we can ban people from going to a pub, football match or town, the same should be done to parts of social media or, if necessary, the internet.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
