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LGBTQ+ Campaigners Call Out Katie Price's 'Extremely Harmful' Petition For Social Media Reform

LGBTQ+ Campaigners Call Out Katie Price's 'Extremely Harmful' Petition For Social Media Reform

The petition has so far racked up over 140,000 signatures, but some are concerned over the proposals.

Lucy Devine

Lucy Devine

Campaigners have called out Katie Price's petition for social media reform, claiming it could be "extremely harmful" to those in the LQBTQ+ community.

Katie has launched a petition, Track A Troll, calling for the government to make it a legal requirement to provide a form of ID when opening a new social media account.

If the account belongs to someone under the age of 18, Katie's reform would require the account be verified with the ID of a parent or guardian.

The aim of the proposal is to prevent anonymous trolling and online abuse by providing traceability if it occurs.

The petition has racked up over 140,000 signatures (
Change.org)

"My son Harvey is disabled. He is also the kind and gentle son of a person regularly in the public eye," Katie explained.

"The Online Harms Bill doesn't go far enough in making online abuse a specific criminal offence and doing what 'Harvey's Law' intended.

"To make the law work [it] needs the removal of anonymity to ensure that users cannot cause harm by using online platforms to abuse others. Where an offence has taken place they ought to be easily identified and reported to the police and punished.

"We have experienced the worst kind of abuse towards my disabled son and want to make sure that no one can hide behind their crime."

Katie has launched a petition calling for the government to make it law to provide a form of ID when opening an account (
BBC)

The petition has so far racked up over 140,000 signatures, but some people are concerned over the proposals. Thousands have been tweeting over the issue, under the #saveanonymity hashtag.

One person wrote on Twitter: "Katie Price is tying to get a law passed in the UK that makes sure you have to show a form of ID when logging into social media apps, you would have to provide information such as: your gender, sexuality, pronouns.

"This is extremely harmful because this could lead to outting of thousands of closeted lgbtq+ kids who may live in an abusive household. please rt this, spread information and use the tag #saveanonymity even if you don't live in the UK you can still help!!"

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Twitter)

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Twitter)
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Twitter)

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Twitter)

Meanwhile, another added: "I can't support this. Young LGBTQ+ people trapped in abusive homes often use anon accounts. Domestic abuse survivors often use anon accounts.

"Many other legitimate reasons too like not being able to afford verified ID (passports etc)."

A third wrote: "I am all for trying to stop the nasty trolling on social media but having to provide ID to open an account is not the way forward. There are people who need to protect their ID for many reasons - not always the most obvious ones either."

"Katie, I know you mean good, but if this went through, it would put the life of LGBTQ+ individuals at risk. I know the trolls are horrible, but I know that you as an ally, know that this puts at risk the lives of thousands of young people. Please understand," another added.

Tyla has reached out to Katie's representatives for comment.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: LGBTQ, News