An MP has addressed social media executives regarding the concerning messages received by politicians, including a threat of hanging directed at her.
Emily Darlington revealed that the threatening comment was made in response to her sharing a petition to save her local Post Office on X back in November. Despite reporting it, the comment remains on the platform.
According to Darlington, the same account has been consistently posting racist, misogynistic, and homophobic comments. She raised these issues while speaking at the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, which held a hearing with tech giants X, TikTok, Google, and Meta as part of an investigation into online misinformation and harmful algorithms.
Recalling the incident, Ms. Darlington stated, «In November, I posted a tweet about my petition to save my local Post Office.»
She continued, «This was a reply from one person: ‘You are a traitor to the British people and you will swing oh so slowly on a gibbet’.»
She added, «I had to look up what a gibbet is, and it’s not a pleasant thing.»
A gibbet is a type of gallows used to display the bodies of executed criminals to the public.
Ms. Darlington reported the post as harmful and violent speech, a violation of X’s rules prohibiting expressions of violence.
Directing her concerns to Wifredo Fernandez, X’s senior director for government affairs, she stated, «These are your safety rules. No action was taken, and the post remains up.»
She also highlighted other violent and racist comments made by the same account.
Questioning Mr. Fernandez, she asked, «Is this behavior acceptable under the guise of free speech on X these days?»
In response, the X official condemned the comments as «abhorrent» and pledged to have his team investigate, although he could not guarantee the removal of the account.
Ms. Darlington emphasized that such comments are not isolated incidents and that many other MPs receive messages «from these kinds of accounts.»
She expressed frustration that despite reporting such messages, no action is taken.
During the session, MPs engaged in heated discussions with Meta representatives regarding the implementation of end-to-end encryption, with Labour’s Paul Waugh accusing the platform of turning Facebook Messenger into «Jeffrey Epstein’s private island».
Criticism was also directed at Meta’s removal of third-party fact-checkers from its platforms, with MPs warning that it could enable the spread of «racist misinformation.»
In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the decision, citing concerns that fact-checkers were too «politically biased» and impeding «free expression.» This move was interpreted by many as an effort to align with the pro-free speech stance of the incoming Donald Trump administration.
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An MP has confronted social media bosses over extreme messages received by politicians after she was threatened with being hung.
Emily Darlington said the comment was made after she shared a petition to save her local Post Office on X last November and still hasn’t been removed – despite reporting it.
The same account has continued to post racist, misogynistic and homophobic comments, she said.
The Labour MP was speaking at the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, which grilled tech giants X, TikTok, Google and Meta on Tuesday as part of an inquiry into online misinformation and harmful algorithms.
Ms Darlington said: «In November I posted a tweet about my petition to save my local Post Office.
«This was a reply from one person: ‘You are a traitor to the British people and you will swing oh so slowly on a gibbet’.
«I had to look up what a gibbet is, it’s not a pleasant thing.»
A gibbet is a form of gallows from which the bodies of executed criminals were hung to public view.
Ms Darlington said she reported the post as harmful and violent speech, in violation of X’s rules that state expressing desire for violence is not allowed.
Addressing Wifredo Fernandez, X’s senior director for government affairs, she said: «These are your safety rules. No action was taken, no action is still taken, the post is still up.»
She went onto list other violent and racist comments made by the account.
She asked Mr Fernandez: «Is this acceptable, under the guise of free speech on X these days?»
The X official said the comments are «abhorrent» and he will have his teams take a look – but that couldn’t make any assurances the account will be removed.
Ms Darlington said the comments are «not unique» and many other MPs get messages «from these kinds of accounts».
«[They] report them and no action is taken», she said.
Elsewhere in the session, MPs clashed with Meta representatives over the implementation of end-to-end encryption – with Labour’s Paul Waugh accusing the platform of turning Facebook Messenger into «Jeffrey Epstein’s private island».
Meta’s removal of third-party fact-checkers from its platforms also came in for criticism, with MPs saying it will allow «racist misinformation» to spread.
In January, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced the change, saying at the time that fact-checkers were too «politically biased» and were having an impact on «free expression» – a move seen by many as an attempt to get closer to the pro-free speech stance of the incoming Donald Trump administration.
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