UK PM calls for tough action to stamp out vile online abuse of missing persons’ families
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is supporting The Mirror’s Missed campaign and has called for the elimination of mindless trolls who subject the families of missing people to "vile online abuse".
Sir Keir told The Mirror: "Families whose loved ones are missing are living through unimaginable pain, and the vile online abuse some of them face is completely unacceptable.
“We expect every social media company to follow UK law and eliminate this behavior. Under the Online Safety Act - which this government has strengthened - platforms must remove illegal harassment and abuse and prevent it from appearing in the first place. We’re also going further to ensure they provide users with tools to block anonymous trolls and filter hateful content.”
Yesterday, The Mirror added our support to the charity Missing People’s new campaign to end the ’tragedy trolling’ of families - the term given to cyberbullies acting as amateur sleuths and using platforms like TikTok and Facebook to spread hateful abuse. We explained how families of high-profile missing persons like Nicola Bulley and Madeleine McCann had been particularly targeted.
Condemning the trolls’ twisted behavior, Sir Keir Starmer said it has even hindered police investigations. He said: “We all have a responsibility to think carefully about what we share online. “Misinformation and harmful AI-generated content don’t just cause real distress to families, in some cases they can also disrupt police investigations and delay justice. Behind every headline are real families who are desperately searching for answers. This government is standing behind them all, and I wholeheartedly support the Mirror’s Missing People [Missed] campaign to shine a light on this important issue.”
Missing People - which also supports our Missed campaign - is calling for an end to tragedy trolling. Ross Miller, CEO of Missing People - who has asked online content creators to sign a pledge promising to treat people with respect - said: “This has got to stop - right now.”
Politics Editor
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