Northern Ireland: Former Journalist Sues Twitter Over Online Harassment
Despite repeated attempts to report offensive content, Twitter allegedly refused to remove
Location: Northern Ireland, BelfastDate: March 11, 2024
Women Press Freedom firmly supports a former women journalist who has taken legal action against social media giant X (formerly known as Twitter) over the platform's alleged failure to address the persistent harassment and cyberstalking. Social media platforms have a responsibility to remove offensive content. The outcome of this case will have significant consequences for all who face harassment online on social media and have reported incidents to these companies to no avail. Since 2020, Women Press Freedom has documented numerous instances of online harassment and threats directed at Northern Irish journalists, including notable figures like Patricia Devlin and Alison Morris. Targeting women journalists on social media serves as a malicious attempt to intimidate them into silence, coerce them into refraining from public discourse, and induce self-censorship. Much of this abuse is rooted in misogyny and is unequivocally unacceptable. We hope that this case will progress and compel Twitter to take decisive action against hateful smear campaigns targeting journalists.
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On March 11, 2024, during a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Belfast, a former journalist was granted permission to serve papers to social media giant Twitter.
According to her lawyers, the journalist has faced a relentless campaign of online harassment, cyberstalking, abuse, and defamation orchestrated through a pseudonymous account on the platform. The content of tweets and blogs, which targeted her in her capacity as a journalist, allegedly contained false allegations and threats, leading to significant damage to her reputation and emotional well-being.
Despite using the platform's complaint system to report the abusive account, the woman asserts that no action has been taken by X to address the issue, exacerbating her distress and anxiety.
Barrister Peter Girvan, representing the journalist, argued that the social media company wrongfully neglected to terminate, suspend, or disable the account and remove the offending material.
This legal action also extends to the Dublin-based owners of WordPress, the blog service provider where the defamatory content was allegedly posted, and the person accused of perpetrating the harassment. In addition to seeking damages, the journalist is pursuing an injunction to compel the removal of all relevant material.
A High Court judge has granted permission for the journalist to serve the statement of claim on both companies. Reporting restrictions on the press have been imposed to safeguard the anonymity of the woman.
The next review of the case is scheduled for next month, during which a date for the full hearing is expected to be decided.
Online Harassment of Northern Ireland Journalists
Online harassment targeting women journalists in Northern Ireland has become alarmingly pervasive, with Twitter serving as a primary platform for such abuse.
In 2022, Suzanne Breen, the political editor of the Belfast Telegraph, faced a deluge of misogynistic and offensive messages after sharing a photo of her ten-year-old daughter online. These messages included horrifying threats of sexual violence directed at her child. In response, Breen reported the abuse to the Police Service of Northern Ireland and filed a criminal complaint. For years, crime reporter Patricia Devlin has experienced years of continuous abuse and death threats, leading to police warning her of imminent danger. Alison Morris of the Belfast Telegraph took legal action against former journalist Eoghan Harris who used pseudonymous accounts to troll and harass her persistently.
In 2020, Amnesty International denounced Twitter for its failure to address threats and derogatory remarks aimed at women politicians in Northern Ireland. Following Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform in 2022, the problem has only worsened, with hate speech, racism, and extremist content proliferating.
A 2023 report from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) reveals the severity of the issue of online harassment targeting women journalists. According to ICFJ research, 73% of female journalists surveyed experienced online violence, with 25% receiving threats of physical violence and 18% facing sexual violence threats. Alarmingly, 20% of victims experienced physical attacks or abuse offline due to online violence.
In recognizing the considerable financial strain and determination required to pursue legal action against a global entity such as Twitter, Women Press Freedom stands firmly in solidarity with the unnamed journalist who courageously steps forward to take this case to court. Its outcome holds immense significance not only for her but for all journalists grappling with similar challenges in the digital sphere. As proceedings unfold, it becomes a litmus test for the accountability of social media platforms. We urge the Belfast court to deliver a just and definitive verdict that not only addresses the immediate concerns at hand but also establishes a precedent for combatting such pervasive forms of online harassment.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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