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VIDEO: Stroud MP renews call for protection from online abuse

A Gloucestershire MP has renewed her call for action to prevent anonymous abuse online.

Speaking this morning on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie, said: "I really do think we need to take action.

"The internet is great for lots of things but there need to be changes to protect people and protect these people's mental health."

The Conservative MP was speaking to Mark Cummings, the breakfast show presenter.

She has been championing the cause for a system of verified accounts online to prevent anonymous abuse.

This comes in the form of an amendment to the Online Safety Bill which was published in draft form in May this year.

The MP suffered serious trolling when she went on maternity leave after the birth of her baby and has since been approached by numerous constituents who have also been attacked online.

She said: "If their details are held online that is a deterrent to being abusive."

The Stroud MP said she was not seeking to stop legitimate anonymity with regards to whistleblowers, for instance. She also explained that the proposed system would only allow people to register their accounts not to see content from unverified accounts and would not completely ban anonymity.

She said: "People choosing not to follow unverified accounts won't see that person.

"There is no simple way of getting rid of and stopping abuse online but this would actively reduce anonymous abuse."

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