MPs demand government shields social media users from extreme misogynists like Andrew Tate

SOCIAL media users must be shielded from misogynists like Andrew Tate, senior MPs have warned Rishi Sunak.

They want the PM to tighten the Online Safety Bill so tech giants are forced to stop promoting his sexist rants.

AFP

MPs want to force social media companies to stop promoting Andrew Tate’s sexist rants[/caption]

Mr Sunak has already caved to a Commons rebellion from Tories demanding social media bosses face jail for failing to remove horrific content.

Now he faces a clash with senior Labour and Tory MPs who want more to be done to tackle online violence against women and girls.

MPs say the Online Safety Bill should include recognition of violence against women and girls as a “specific harm”, with a code of practice detailing how misogynistic content should be investigated by moderators.

They also want to force tech giants to “address and reasonably
mitigate against potential harms” caused by sexists like Tate.

This includes changing algorithms so misogynistic content doesn’t spread like wild fire on social platforms.

Over 90,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the Bill to change.

A physical copy was delivered to Downing Street last week by a group of MPs and activists, including former Love Islander Sharon Gaffka.

Tory MP Caroline Nokes told The Sun: “The petition shows how strongly women and girls feel that online abuse can translate into violence and misogyny in the real world.

” We are all optimistic that the online safety bill will make the internet a safer place, but additional safeguards are needed, a code of practice for the platforms would help, and specific reference to the additional harms faced by women and girls.”

The long-promised Online Safety Bill will finally protect kids from sick online hate and suicide content.

Initially it included a clause forcing tech bosses to ban “legal but harmful” content, such as sexism and racism.

But the clause was ditched amid concerns it would stifle free speech.

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition said: “We know there are links between online misogyny and abuse with offline violence.

“This content can be incredibly harmful to impressionable young people, particularly girls and young women, as it reinforces society’s acceptance of negative gendered norms and stereotypes. 

“Social media companies should be required by law to take comprehensive and systematic action to prevent this content from being uploaded and promoted by its algorithms.”