Twitter Admits Failing Rape Threat Women

Twitter has broken its silence over a growing row about abuse on the social media site, telling Sky News it has failed women who have faced rape threats.

Twitter's Head of Safety Del Harvey said: "I think that any time that someone feels we weren't responsive, or weren't reactive or we didn't care then, yes, we failed in that instance and we need to do better.

"And that's something that we have definitely had highlighted in terms of the need to educate people about what we've done and to get feedback on what we need to do better."

The row began after a series of rape and death threats were issued against feminist campaigner, Caroline Criado-Perez, and the MP Stella Creasy.

Twitter was criticised for not taking stronger and swifter action against the abusive messages. It insisted it took the issue seriously.

The allegations were reported to the police and an investigation was launched into the string of messages sent to Ms Criado-Perez, who last week headed a successful campaign for a female figure to appear on UK banknotes, and the Labour MP for Walthamstow.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of harassment of the two women and earlier in the week police questioned and released on bail a 21-year-old man in connection with messages sent to Ms Criado-Perez.

Speaking to Sky News from San Francisco, Ms Harvey revealed that Twitter had spoken to police about abuse claims.

Ms Criado-Perez was sent sickening abuse nearly every minute for 48 hours

She also said "automated and manual systems" were already in place to prevent abuse and Twitter was now working on a further solution that will allow users to tap on a tweet and report it as abusive. Tweeters will then be asked to answer a series of questions about the abuse they have reported.

The 'report abuse' button, already available on its latest iPhone app, will be extended to other platforms.

Her comments came as Ms Criado Perez, who has criticised the microblogging site's security policies, described how the vicious online attack left her feeling "under siege" and terrified in her own home.

Ms Criado Perez, 29, also said Twitter needs to "get a grip" on security, as it emerged bosses were likely to face a grilling from MPs.

She said the social network was ill-equipped to handle episodes of sustained abuse and needed to work more closely with police to deal with internet trolls.

Ms Criado Perez met Twitter directors on Monday night along with Ms Creasy, who received a similar torrent of abusive messages after she offered support to the freelance journalist.

"This will have been a wake-up call for Twitter," Ms Criado Perez said.

"It will hopefully have led them to realise that they are not equipped to deal with this kind of thing properly.

Ms Creasy called for Twitter to take stronger action against online thugs

"They need to get a grip and figure it out."

The campaigner, who received assurances that Twitter is working to improve its procedures for reporting menacing behaviour, said the police also needed to "step up".

"We had a positive conversation about making reporting quicker, simpler and more focused on getting results for the victim," she added.

"I feel that finally they're taking this issue seriously, though it's a shame it's taken this worldwide outcry for them to act.

"We'll be keeping up the pressure in the coming weeks, but the signs of some serious, positive changes are good."

Twitter bosses look set to face questions from MPs when the Culture, Media and Sport Committee examines issues surrounding child protection in the autumn.

Committee chair John Whittingdale said: "I would have thought it very possible that the committee might want, in the course of our inquiry, to talk to Twitter."

He added: "It isn't that the law needs to be changed; the question is how you identify people and how you prevent them (from abusing others online).

"That is the big question and it is one we would wish to explore with internet companies to determine whether they are doing as much as they can or whether they should do more. I think that's a very live issue."

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