This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Ban anonymous accounts on social media
The Government should require social media companies operating in the UK to prevent the use of anonymous accounts, if necessary verifying their users, to stop trolls abusing people without any consequences.
More details
Having been a target of racial and homophobic attacks on Instagram over the past few years I have quickly noticed that reporting a page or comment does not work. Users simply open a new page and continue their attacks.
Abusers on social media hide behind the power of anonymity and that should be stripped. If Instagram asked for sufficient identification on sign up. When an abusive comment is reported. That user WILL be held accountable. Let the trolls reveal themselves!
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 10 August 2020
Being anonymous online does not give anyone the right to abuse others. The Government is introducing world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online.
Read the response in full
There has been a worrying rise in the amount of online abuse, much of which happens on social media, but not exclusively so. In many cases, the perceived anonymity of offenders adds a further frightening experience for victims, with this abuse often leaving a lasting impact on individual mental health. Whether the identity of the victim is known or unknown, this abuse is unacceptable. The Government is taking urgent action to tackle abuse online.
We expect companies to do substantially more to tackle anonymous abuse online. The Online Harms White Paper, published in 2019, will establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users which will be overseen by an independent regulator. This regulator will set clear safety standards, backed up by mandatory reporting requirements and strong enforcement powers to deal with non-compliance.
The Government published its Initial Consultation Response to the Online Harms White Paper in February 2020, which set out our direction of travel on a number of key areas. We are aiming to publish a full government response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation later this year. This will include more detailed proposals on online harms regulation and will be released alongside interim voluntary codes on tackling online terrorist and child sexual exploitation and abuse content and activity. DCMS and the Home Office are working at pace to develop the legislation and it will be ready early next year.
Alongside measures set out in the White Paper, we are taking a holistic approach to tackling abuse online. The police have a range of legal powers to identify individuals who attempt to use anonymity to escape sanctions for online abuse, where the activity is illegal. We are also working with law enforcement to review whether police powers are sufficient to tackle anonymous abuse online.
It is important to make sure that the criminal law is fit for purpose to deal with online harms. The Law Commission is conducting the second phase of its review of abusive and offensive online communications. This will include considering whether co-ordinated harassment by groups of people online could be more effectively dealt with by the criminal law. The Law Commission will review existing communications offences and make specific recommendations about options for reform, to ensure that criminal law provides consistent and effective protection against such behaviour. We expect the Law Commission to produce its final report in early 2021.
But online anonymity is an important principle of a free and open internet. There are many legitimate reasons why an individual would not wish to identify themselves online. Whistle-blowers, victims of modern slavery and survivors of domestic abuse may need to conceal their identity online. Globally, anonymity can be an especially important component in protecting human rights and allowing journalists to operate, especially within authoritarian regimes, without fear of undue reprisal and detention. This would also apply to human rights defenders and journalists from abroad posting on UK-hosted sites.
The Online Harms regulatory framework sets out robust measures which companies will need to comply with to tackle abuse online. These will be counterbalanced with freedom of expression and the many legitimate reasons for individual anonymity online.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Related activity
MPs debate online harms in House of Commons
MPs held a debate on online harms in Westminster Hall this week, on Wednesday 7 October. The debate included discussion of a number of petitions on this subject, including the one you have signed.
You can watch the debate here: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/aad8d239-7905-49b7-a217-33530de02d33
Or read the transcript here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-10-07/debates/E70A853B-6CBE-4215-9035-30AB3E490798/OnlineHarms
The Petitions Committee is currently investigating tackling online abuse. You can find out more about this here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/307/tackling-online-abuse/
The Committee also published a report in 2019 about online abuse and the experience of disabled people, you can read this here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmpetitions/759/759.pdf
You can follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on work on this issue and others: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Find out more about the Backbench Business Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/
MPs to debate regulation and prevention of online harms
MPs will debate regulation and prevention of online harms this Thursday 19 November in the main House of Commons Chamber. The subject of the debate has been determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
This will be a debate on a motion proposed by Jeremy Wright MP, which proposes that the House recognises the need to take urgent action to reduce and prevent online harms and urges the Government to bring forward the Online Harms Bill as soon as possible, on which Members may vote at the end of the debate.
The debate will start at around 11.00am, following the business statement and questions to the Leader of the House, and any other urgent questions or statements.
Watch here this Thursday: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/a9bed331-34a0-4f31-bd03-1ee0bf912ebc
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Find out more about the Backbench Business Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/
MPs to debate online anonymity
MPs will debate online anonymity this Wednesday 13 January in Westminster Hall.
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
The debate will start at 2.30pm and last for 90 minutes.
Watch the debate: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/dbffb1d7-6d27-40e3-b145-67553f04c89b
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
MPs to debate Online Anonymity and Anonymous Abuse
MPs will debate Online Anonymity and Anonymous Abuse on Wednesday 24 March in the main House of Commons Chamber. The subject of the debate has been determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
The debate will start at around 12.30pm, following Prime Minister's Questions.
Watch here this Wednesday: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4ee11fcd-f567-4897-8c0b-f04de0be4caa
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-03-24
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Find out more about the Backbench Business Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/
Relevant work by the Petitions Committee
The Petitions Committee has been looking at how to tackle online abuse, following a number of petitions calling for action to be taken to tackle online abuse.
You can find out more about the Committee's work on online abuse, and read transcript of this evidence, here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/307/tackling-online-abuse/
Government announces plans to tackle online abuse
On Tuesday 11 May, the Government announced its plans for new laws to tackle harmful content online, as part of the Queen's Speech. The Government's plans for new internet laws are intended to protect children online and tackle some of the worst abuses on social media, including racist hate crimes. These new laws are contained in a new Online Safety Bill, which will be considered Parliament in due course.
Read more about the Government's plans here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-laws-to-keep-children-safe-stop-racial-hate-and-protect-democracy-online-published
Read the draft Online Safety Bill and explanatory notes here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-online-safety-bill
Read the Queen's Speech background briefing notes for more information on the Government's proposed Bills: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-2021-background-briefing-notes
What is the Queen's Speech?
The Queen's Speech is the speech that the Queen reads out in the House of Lords Chamber on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament.
It's written by the Government and sets out the programme of Bills - new laws, and changes to existing laws - that the Government intends to put forward in this new Parliamentary session. A session of Parliament usually lasts around one year.
Once the Government puts forward a Bill in Parliament, Parliament then debates the Government's proposal and decides whether to adopt the changes to the law set out in the Bill.
Petitions Committee announce evidence sessions on tackling online abuse
On Tuesday 2 November, the Petitions Committee will hold an evidence session with experts and campaigners as it resumes its inquiry into Tackling Online Abuse.
Watch the session, from 2.15pm on Tuesday 2 November: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons
The session follows evidence sessions in summer 2020 with petitioners Katie and Amy Price, and Bobby Norris, focusing on their experience of receiving online abuse targeted at them and their families.
The Committee is resuming its inquiry following the Government’s publication of its draft Online Safety Bill earlier this year. Tuesday's session will be the first of three sessions the Committee plans to hold over the next month.
Earlier this year, a petition calling for verified ID to be made a requirement for opening a social media account received almost 700,000 signatures in six months. Over 500,000 of those people signed in the weeks following the racist abuse aimed at England footballers after the 2020 European Championships final.
Find all publications related to this inquiry, including oral and written evidence: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/307/tackling-online-abuse/publications/
What is the Committee looking at?
The Committee's inquiry will be focusing on:
The lived experience of people receiving online abuse on social media, particularly in relation to protected characteristics;
Social, regulatory and technological solutions to online abuse – in particular the option of user ID verification and/or restrictions on anonymity on social media; and
The availability and enforcement of legal penalties for online abuse.
In its evidence session on 2 November, the Committee will focus on opportunities and priorities for Government action to tackle online abuse aimed at people as a result of characteristics such as their sexuality, disability, or religion.
It will also consider experts’ perspectives on the Government’s proposals to tackle online abuse through its draft Online Safety Bill, as well as looking at how stronger Government-led interventions to tackle online abuse could affect freedom of speech online.
Find out more about this session on our website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/158217/petitions-committee-hears-from-antidiscrimination-campaigners/
What are evidence sessions?
Evidence sessions are public meetings with experts, officials or people with personal experiences of the topic being examined. Evidence sessions help Committees to understand how Government policies are working in the real world, and what needs to change to make things better.
What is the Petitions Committee?
The Petitions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs appointed by the House of Commons to consider e-petitions submitted on Parliament’s petitions website and public (paper) petitions presented to the House of Commons.
Find out more about the Petitions Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work: https://twitter.com/HoCpetitions
You can also sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/
Report on the draft Online Safety Bill to be debated by MPs
On Thursday 13 January, MPs will debate a report published by the Committee set up to consider the Government's draft Online Safety Bill, which will place new legal duties on social media and other online service providers to tackle harmful content on their platforms.
Watch the debate on Thursday: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/3e3fee3d-f56b-4866-8de4-8ee26cdace33
You can also read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it has finished: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-01-13
The debate will begin after a debate on ongoing detention of Bahraini political prisoners.
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Find out more about the Online Safety Bill
The Online Safety Bill is a proposed new law which will establish a regulatory framework to tackle harmful content online. A draft version of the Bill was published in May 2021, and Parliament is due to begin considering the final version of the Bill in the coming months.
Find out more about the draft Bill on the Government's website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-laws-to-keep-children-safe-stop-racial-hate-and-protect-democracy-online-published
Read the draft Bill and related documents: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-online-safety-bill
What is the Joint Committee on the Online Safety Bill?
The Draft Online Safety Bill (Joint Committee) has been appointed to consider the Government's draft Online Safety Bill. It's a cross-party committee made up of members from the House of Commons and House of Lords, and is independent of the Government.
Find out more about the Committee's work on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/534/draft-online-safety-bill-joint-committee/
You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OnlineSafetyCom
This is a ‘Joint Committee’. Find out how Joint Committees work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/committees/joint/
Find out more about the Committee's report
The Joint Committee on the draft Online Safety Bill published its report looking at the Government's draft Bill on 14 December 2021. The report recommends several changes to the Bill.
Find out more about the report, including a comment from Damian Collins MP, Chair of the Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/534/draft-online-safety-bill-joint-committee/news/159784/no-longer-the-land-of-the-lawless-joint-committee-reports/
Read the full report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt5802/jtselect/jtonlinesafety/129/12902.htm
The Government now must respond to the Committee's report.
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
You can sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/
Petitions Committee publishes report on tackling online abuse and announces debate
On Tuesday 1 February, the Petitions Committee published a new report on Tackling Online Abuse, which examines what the Government can do to help protect social media users from abuse online.
The report is the result of an inquiry by the Committee, in which it heard from petition creators, campaign groups, social media companies, and experts on social media regulation.
Read a summary of the report and its key recommendations to the Government:
https://ukparliament.shorthandstories.com/tackling-online-abuse-petitions-report/index.html
The Committee has also scheduled a debate in Parliament on the two petitions which prompted its inquiry, which will take place on Monday 28 February.
Find out more, including comment from Petitions Committee Chair Catherine McKinnell MP:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/160612/failure-to-prevent-repeated-online-abuse-should-lead-to-fines-for-social-media-companies-say-mps
About the Committee's report
The report looks at how the Government and social media companies can better respond to abusive behaviour taking place online, and address the harm abuse can cause to people who receive it, and their families.
It looks at new laws the Government is planning to introduce in the Online Safety Bill, which the Government has said will help to tackle online abuse.
The report also considers how to ensure people abusing others online are held accountable for their actions, including changes to the criminal law to punish this behaviour, and whether social media users should be required to link their account to a real world identity document.
The report calls on the Government to take action including:
- Fining social media companies that fail to prevent people who have been banned from the platform for abusive behaviour from setting up new accounts
- Requiring social media companies to give their users the option to link their account to verified ID and block interactions with unverified users
- Strengthening the protections for adults in the Online Safety Bill against the risk of facing abuse on social media, in particular for groups of users who are more likely to receive abuse.
Read the full report (HTML): https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpetitions/766/report.html
Read the full report (PDF): https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/8669/documents/89002/default/
What happens next?
The Petitions Committee has submitted the report to the Government for their consideration. The Government is expected to respond to the Committee's report within two months. Once it’s been received, the Committee will publish the Government’s response on its website and notify petitioners.
Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work: https://twitter.com/hocpetitions
The Government is expected to introduce the Online Safety Bill in Parliament later this year. Once it has been presented in Parliament you'll be able to read the Bill and follow its progress here: https://bills.parliament.uk/
Westminster Hall debate
The Committee has also scheduled a debate on the following petitions relating to online abuse which have received more than 830,000 signatures in total:
Make verified ID a requirement for opening a social media account: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/575833
Hold online trolls accountable for their online abuse via their IP address: https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/272087
The debate will take place on Monday 28 February from 4:30pm, and will last for up to 3 hours. You will be able to watch the debate on Parliament's YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_eyMIEc564&feature=youtu.be
The debate will be opened by Catherine McKinnell MP, the Chair of the Petitions Committee. The Government will send a Minister to respond.