CALL FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION ON ONLINE HATE

The Church of Scotland has joined other faith groups calling on the Government to act if social media companies fail to tackle hate speech.

The Very Rev Dr Susan Brown, convener of the Church’s Faith Impact Forum of the Church of Scotland, and nine other faith leaders issued a statement in August asking for new legislation to be introduced as a matter of urgency.

The group say the public could not rely on social media companies’ piecemeal approach to online abuse.

Dr Brown said: “No-one should hide behind technology to make hurtful and hateful comments or to fuel people’s prejudices.

“Words always have consequences and we would encourage people to use them to break down barriers, not build them.

“Christians believe that all people are made in God’s image and that means we cannot see anyone mistreated or abused.

“Companies can’t provide the means and take the profit without being held accountable.”

The statement was also signed by representatives of the Jewish, Muslim and Hindi communities.

This article appears in the October 2020 Issue of Life and Work

Click here to view the article in the magazine.

To view other articles in this issue Click here.

If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive here.