2 min read
ByMarcus Dysch, Marcus Dysch
The rapid growth in online hatred poses a vast challenge to police, legislators and internet companies. The emergence of sites including Twitter and Facebook has provided trolls and racists with direct lines of communication to their targets.
Luciana Berger's case is a prime example of the difficulties created when a handful of users spark an outbreak of abuse that crosses platforms and borders with apparent impunity.
The government announced plans earlier this month to introduce tougher sentencing for those who use the internet for abuse. The maximum jail term for trolls could be quadrupled from six months to two years.
Those measures would also give police time to probe abusers, but anyone witnessing the attacks on Ms Berger may question whether the resources are available to take action against hundreds of social media users.
The JC understands the collaborative efforts of the Metropolitan Police - which is responsible for investigating online hate crime and abuse - and the Merseyside Police - which is investigating local reports of abuse against the Labour MP - have not run as smoothly as might be expected. There is believed to have been confusion at times over which force should take what course of action, although Ms Berger is said to be pleased with the way police have handled the investigation.
One expert who has represented British authorities in talks with leading internet firms said the biggest challenges came in dealing with US counterparts.
"The culture and governance in the UK is very different on hate speech than it is in the US," he said. "The fact is the internet provides a platform. There is very little we can do other than appeal to the sites' better nature.
"But I don't see any time where there will be a global network of laws for the internet. There isn't the will. There's no appetite for the US to change its constitution. There will not be an ultimate solution. On freedom of speech we have to take the rough with the smooth."
The Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism has urged firms to commit to a series of pledges to tackle internet hate.
An ICCA spokesperson said: "The legal remedies are very difficult. The question of jurisdiction in each country is very different. In the US the issue of freedom of speech and the First Amendment is considered in a much wider context than it is in Britain. We aim to get internet service providers to sign up to the guidelines and principles."
That approach has provided some rays of light in Europe. French judges forced Twitter to remove antisemitic content after Jewish students attempted to sue the site over the use of the hashtag #UnBonJuif last year. The firm was forced to hand over details identifying those who had posted the abuse.
The site is now taking extra efforts to ensure it works in conjunction with European laws.
Meanwhile, videos posted by antisemitic comedian Dieudonné have been removed by YouTube, while Facebook took down the page of a French Holocaust denier.
