Ministers look to ban online misogyny in crackdown on attacks on women

2023-02-04

Ministers look to ban online misogyny in crackdown on attacks on women and girls – despite rejecting call to make it a hate crime

Ministers hope the new Online Safety Bill will combat misogynistic abuse
Platforms could be forced to provide an option to screen out misogyny

Government ministers hope the new Online Safety Bill will combat misogynistic abuse of women on social media.

Tory peer Baroness Morgan, a former culture secretary, and current culture secretary Michelle Donelan are backing the bill and want to ensure a legally enforceable code of practice which will protect women, The Telegraph reports.

Last year ministers rejected a bid to have misogyny classed as a hate crime, but there is now hope social media platforms will be forced to stamp out abuse.

The failure to safeguard users could result in fines and, in some cases, have platforms blocked entirely by online watchdog Ofcom, the publication reports.

Tory peer Baroness Morgan (pictured), a former culture secretary, is championing the bill

There is also a hope that platforms could be forced to provide users with an option to screen out misogyny.

The government earlier opted to ditch initial measures which would protect social media users from ‘legal but harmful content’ amid concerns it could undermine freedom of speech.

But Baroness Morgan said: ‘What about the right to access and participation online without being abused and harassed?

‘There are going to be some specific criminal offences in the Bill, but they don’t address the misogyny that has grown up not just on small high harm platforms but right the way across mainstream platforms.

‘It’s things like threats of rape, death threats, very much directed at women because they are women and girls. It’s designed to drive women off platforms. They don’t necessarily break the illegal threshold, but it all goes to making a space where women are deliberately made to feel uncomfortable.’

The failure to safeguard users could result in fines and, in some cases, have platforms blocked entirely by online watchdog Ofcom, the publication reports

Dame Maria Miller, a former culture secretary and women’s minister, has thrown her support behind Baroness Morgan’s amendment.

Baroness Bertin and shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell have also pledged support.

In February 2022, then Home Secretary Priti Patel sent a letter to all 650 MPs stating she believed branding misogyny a hate crime would prove ‘more harmful than helpful’ to women.

A recent Law Commission report cited by the Home Office claimed prosecutors would struggle to prove ‘gender-based aggravation’ in crimes that usually take place behind closed doors if misogyny is added existing hate crime laws.

The Law Commission, which recommends legal changes, had argued the move to make misogyny a hate crime would create ‘hierarchies of victims’ – and make prosecuting rape and domestic abuse more difficult.

In February 2022, then Home Secretary Priti Patel sent a letter to all 650 MPs stating she believed branding misogyny a hate crime would prove ‘more harmful than helpful’ to women

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