Simple measures can prevent anonymous social media trolling: The Yorkshire Post says

In that context, the call by Dame Vera Baird, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, that tech giants such as Twitter and Facebook should not allow people to sign up without providing accurate identifiable information should be heeded.

There are of course good reasons why some people would wish to protect their identity online – from being a victim of crime to professional reasons or being able to speak out against oppressive regimes.

However, as Dame Vera points out, this is not about preventing people from using pseudonyms online but by giving identifying details when setting up an account which would mean they can be traced by the police should the need arise.

In the same way that responsible journalists protect their sources, tech giants could investigate and protect the identities of users should they feel that an authority’s request for an individual’s information was not legitimate.

But social media users knowing they are traceable would undoubtedly make those who send threatening, offensive and racist abuse in a way they wouldn’t dare to in real life think twice about their actions.

Dame Vera compares being on the receiving end of hateful online abuse as like being stalked in your own home and the consequences of suffering such harassment stay with victims for years. The modest measures she has suggested are both entirely sensible and potentially life-saving.

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