Legal News
World Wide Web inventor calls for end of online abuse towards women (15 December 2014)
Date: 15/12/2014
The British inventor who developed the World Wide Web has called for an end to women being abused online as a result of so-called “trolls” who threaten violence and sexual violence online.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee was responding to a new report which investigates the social impact of the web. Sir Tim was speaking at the launch of the report and said that social networks like Twitter should do more to tackle “gender inequality” online.
He said that people expressing controversial ideas in online forums and on social media had fuelled a rise in “gender-based violence”.
In July and August 2013, several women calling for an image of author Jane Austen to appear on a bank note faced abuse and threats of rape on Twitter. Several of the abusers who had “trolled” the women campaigners were jailed.
Sir Tim – who invented the World Wide Web – said:
“When you look at Twitter, people tend to retweet things which are more extreme.
“You don’t see people retweeting things that are a really balanced opinion – Twitter is an environment that is emotionally charged.”
Sir Tim also said that social networking sites and online opinion forums should put in place more accountability for those who express extreme views online.
Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors
Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge for harassment, threatening behaviour or public order offences, including charges brought under Section 127 (1) of the Communications Act 2003.
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