Poll backs making net trolls show their faces

TWO-thirds of Britons want to see anonymous accounts banned on social media to crack down on vicious online abuse, a poll reveals.

- David Maddox

The Redfield and Wilton survey for the Sunday Express showed 65 per cent back an outright ban on these accounts which are often used to threaten and troll people.

It comes after footballers Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were victims of racist online abuse following England’s Euro 2020 final defeat last Sunday.

A change in the law has widespread support in Parliament and was recently pushed by Labour MPs Dianne Abbott, Dame Margaret Hodge and Jess Phillips.

But Tories have also added their voices to the demands because of concerns over the toxic debate on sites such as Twitter and the way anonymous accounts hide the identity of people behind poisonous comments and attacks.