|
|
| Major victory for Cyber bullying campaign |
STATUS update: Facebook is... joining our Click Bullying Into Touch campaign as the net closes in on vile cyberbullies.
The social networking website is BACKING the News of the World’s demand to tighten up online controls in order to shut down the sick web harassment making hundreds of thousands of children’s lives unbearable.
In a major victory for the News of the World’s campaign, Facebook — which has a whopping 20MILLION UK users — changed its privacy policy last week so evidence of serious abuse or cyberbullying can be handed over to the police.
And it has also PROMISED to set up an independent panel of online safety experts to examine its policies from next week onwards.
Richard Allan, Facebook’s Director of EU Public Policy, said: “Facebook supports the News of the World in campaigning against bullying online.”
It is the latest big win for our campaign to stamp out cyberbullying since launching two weeks ago.
Video sharing website YouTube has already signed up to Click Bullying Into Touch and promised to BAN cyberbullies in a “three strikes and you’re out” system.
They have also met our demands for a clear system for reporting tormenters, with a “flag” abuse button under every YouTube video and a link to the site’s safety centre for expert advice. By changing their privacy policy last week, Facebook has now made it clear that users consent to the site sharing information with the police in response to legal requests and to prevent harm.
Mr Allan added: “At Facebook, we take the safety of our users extremely seriously. Educating people about the problem and how they can protect themselves online is key to tackling cyber bullying.”
Their new Safety Advisory Board of e-safety experts from around the world will see five independent organisations review Facebook’s policies on reporting abuse and harassment.
“We are constantly thinking of ways to expand our safety initiatives,” explained Mr Allan. “To that end, Facebook is convening a board of advisors on safety issues.
“In addition to reviewing the safety materials that we provide our users, this group will advise us on industry best practices.”
Facebook will also ban bullies from the website using a points- based system where users who pester others will be warned and then kicked out if they continue to taunt and tease. Serious offenders will be banned immediately.
Since we launched our campaign, Education Secretary Ed Balls has written to headteachers recommending they appoint a senior teacher responsible for anti-bullying policy — one of our campaign demands.
In another coup, TV childcare expert Tanya Byron — who is co-ordinating the government’s response to cyberbullying through the UK Council for Child Internet Safety — also supports our demands.
She has vowed to “kick things along” if UKCCIS’s strategy is unsatisfactory when it launches on December 8.
YOU can also join our fight to help the 340,000 children who are regularly bullied over the internet.
Just sign our petition by filling in the form below or by visiting notw.co.uk/beatbullying
We are demanding:
1. A CODE of practice for social networking sites with a flagged system for kids to refer offensive posts. Sites must respond to the complaints within six hours and supply copies of offensive posts to authorities. There must be a yellow card system for cyber offenders — with a red card and a ban for persistent offenders.
2. A SENIOR teacher in every school responsible for anti-bullying policy.
3. MAIN parties to set out funded anti-bullying measures in manifestos and the government to introduce a Schools Safety Bill and independent regulator for social networking sites.
Comments
Keeping one eye on the rest of the web
Westminster blog spy
