Disability charity Mencap is supporting calls to strengthen laws against online abuse of people with disabilities.
Mencap staff gave evidence before a hearing of Parliament’s Petitions Committee.
Katie Price: her petition gained more than 220,000 signatories and has led to a Government inquiry
The committee is looking at introducing tougher laws on abusers who target people with disabilities online.
Model Katie Price started the campaign after she says online trolls targeted her son Harvey for “horrific” abuse.
Harvey, 15, is blind and has autism, ADHD and Prader-Willi syndrome, which affects appetite and muscle development.
Victim of online abuse
Online abusers have targeted his disabilities, race and size, says Price.
Her petition has gained more than 220,000 signatories and has led to a Government inquiry.
Amy Clarke, who has a learning disability and works in Mencap’s digital team, gave evidence before the petitions committee.
‘Called a retard’
She said: “I have been called a retard and felt forced to leave groups online.”
Rob Holland of Mencap: he says people with learning disabilities can become victims of mate crime online
Clarke wants technology companies to make it easier for people to report abuse.
Rob Holland is Mencap’s public affairs manager.
He said in severe cases online abusers can take advantage of people with a learning disability and make them victims of ‘mate’ crime.
Abuse ‘getting worse’
Giving evidence, Price, 39, demanded a register to “name and shame” offenders.
Price said she had tried to get trolls “closed down”, but abuse is “getting worse all the time”.
Prime Minister Theresa May has warned online platforms have become “places of intimidation and abuse” and public debate is “toxifying”.
The government has asked the Law Commission to examine whether it is possible to protect people better.
The Commission is due to start work in April and expects to publish findings within six months.
Law Commissioner Professor David Ormerod QC said laws must offer “appropriate protection” both “on and off line”.
Victim: Amy Clarke, who has a learning disability, says online abuse has forced her to leave online groups
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Published: 12 February 2018
