THE internet is arguably the greatest invention of the last century.
The opportunities it has opened up are truly wonderful. Families and friends can stay connected with each other; online learning platforms make it easy to discover new skills; digital photography and music platforms enrich our lives.
But there is another side to the internet. One filled with bitterness, resentment, and enmity.
Internet trolls are not new. They have been around since online discussion boards inadvertently gave them a platform.
Trolls aren’t interested in discussion. They don’t want a conversation. They exist to hijack sensible discourse.They don’t care if they are right or wrong. They get a kick out of being an oaf.
Of course, they don’t do it out in the open. They prefer the cosy cloak of anonymity.
The Press has suffered its fair share of trolls over the years. Usually, they get the message after being banned.
But one troll has returned again and again. We have banned these accounts - often more than a dozen per day - but the person behind them kept coming back. They made life miserable for legitimate users.
That’s why today we have taken a range of actions to clampdown on their behaviour.
It’s also why trolls on our website will find themselves held up to public scrutiny by the Press from now on.
We welcome reasonable debate on the articles we write. Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy; freedom to insult users and propagate hate speech is not.
We will not tolerate abuse of any kind on our site and this is why people who insult or denigrate other people will find themselves banned.
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