The Commissioner recently attended the launch of a report in Belfast that maps far-right online activity and said “immediate action needs to be taken to address the findings”.
Commissioner, Chris Quinn, said: “I welcome the publication of Mapping Far-Right Activity Online in Northern Ireland Project Report which highlights the devastating impact this activity has had on the lives of children and young people and their right to be protected from violence, whether online or offline. This is child abuse.
“I would strongly support the report’s recommendations for stronger regulation and enforcement to combat online racism at devolved and Westminster level. This includes the full and robust implementation of Ofcom’s Children’s Codes, which mandate those services “minimise children’s exposure to other serious harms, including violent, hateful or abusive material, bullying content, and content promoting dangerous challenges.
“The current online environment is failing to adequately protect children from these significant threats.”
He continued: “I am also urging the immediate publication of the Refugee and Integration Strategy, which must address this critical area, as well as the revised Racial Equality Strategy.
“These strategies must include a proactive monitoring approach to online racist and far-right activity, with dedicated resources allocated to effectively combat it.
“While we are aware there is to be a Sentencing Bill, much more needs to be done, and can be done, within and across communities to tackle hate crime, hate, and hostility.
“I would call on all relevant authorities and stakeholders to take immediate and decisive action to address the findings of this report and create a safer online and offline environment for all children.”
