Keyham shooting families call for action against 'incel culture'

They've met with the Security Minister to talk about the Online Safety Bill

(L) Damian Hinds and (R) Luke Pollard
Author: Simon McleanPublished 17th May 2022

The new Online Safety Bill needs to tackle so-called 'incel culture' - according to families of people who died in last year's shootings in Plymouth.

They've been putting their case for action against sites that glorify violence against women and girls to Security Minister Damian Hinds.

They were joined by Luke Pollard MP, who organised the meeting with the Minister having raised concerns about the growth of hateful online content and its possible links to the Keyham shooting.

He said, “The government’s Online Safety Bill offers us a chance to tackle the toxic underbelly of the internet that acts as a breeding ground for hate and incel culture.

“I’m so proud of the way Keyham residents today made the case directly to the Security Minister that incel culture must be included in the bill.”

'Incel' is short for 'involuntary celibate', people who believe they are unable to find a partner and express misogyny and violence as a result.

Ministers currently want to regulate social media companies based on their size rather than the risk they pose.

This means the full publications may not apply to sites that host incel content and content glorifying violence against women and girls.

Luke Pollard says it is the risk to the public that should be the deciding factor rather than its market value.

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