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Katie Price urging MPs to tackle online abuse Katie Price urges MPs to tackle online abuse
(about 1 hour later)
Katie Price is appearing in Parliament to call on MPs to make online abuse a criminal offence. Katie Price has told MPs of the impact the "horrific" social media abuse of her son Harvey has had on her family.
The reality TV star and model also wants to see the creation of a register of offenders. The model and reality TV star is campaigning for online abuse to be made a criminal offence.
Her 15-year-old son Harvey - who is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome - has been targeted on social media.Her 15-year-old son Harvey - who is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome - has been targeted on social media.
MPs launched an inquiry into online abuse after a petition started by Ms Price was backed by 200,000 people.MPs launched an inquiry into online abuse after a petition started by Ms Price was backed by 200,000 people.
Ms Price, who is appearing alongside her mother Amy, told the Commons petitions committee people found Harvey "an easy target" and he could not speak up for himself. Ms Price, who appeared alongside her mother Amy, told the Commons petitions committee Harvey had been cruelly mocked for years including "a lot of racial abuse".
It is possible to prosecute people who send abusive or threatening messages on social media under existing laws. "They know he hasn't got a voice back and they mock him more... I just think they find him an easy target - just to pick on.
But campaigners say these laws were created before the internet was invented and need to be updated. "But I'm his voice. I'm here and I am going to protect him."
Ms Price says she wants to introduce legislation called Harvey's Law to give people extra protection. She said she had complained to the police but they had been unable to take action because there were no specific laws in place to deal with online abuse.
She said of her son's experiences: "Harvey was getting racial abuse, they were mocking him ... putting him on t-shirts, and he's got complex special needs - I've got five children but they always pick on him." "The most horrific things that have been said about my son," she told the MPs, and she had realised through her petition that others face similar harassment.
"He cannot speak for himself but I can," she told the BBC's Daily Politics. Her mother, Amy Price, suggested "the law is out of date - it's got to be policed more".
"I have two had people arrested by the police - they took it as far as they could but they could not charge them with anything because there is absolutely nothing in place. Katie "has always been in the limelight" and she has "got used to it," she added, but the abuse of Harvey "does upset you and you do feel emotional - it's hard".
"So I thought, I am going to do something about this." In response to the suggestion that she invited the insults by posting pictures of her son, Katie Price said "I'm proud of Harvey" and it was important for disabled children to have visibility.
She said freedom of speech was important but there had to be a line and it was not just people with disabilities who needed protection, "it could be anyone". She said the criminalisation of online abuse shouldn't just be restricted to the targeting of disabled people.
"I am going to fight as much as I can to get online abuse a criminal offence," she said and added that she was counting on MPs to "put a case together, and believe in me, and take it to the next step so it is a discussion in government". "I know I'm here because it started off because Harvey and his disabilities but this isn't just for people with disabilities as well, it will help everybody."
'Death threats' She added: "Like me or hate me, I'm here to protect others."
'I'll be back'
She said it was important to protect freedom of speech and there needed to be a discussion about how bad abuse could get before it was considered criminal.
She also argued for a register of people found guilty of online abuse, saying: "If they are big enough to go behind their computers and say these things then I want them named and shamed."
After 40 minutes facing MPs' questions, she said: "I know you lot sitting there agree with me, really.
"We know we all agree but we just have to get the government to do it."
If nothing happened, she joked, she would be "like Arnold Schwarzenegger - I'll be back."
The Petitions Committee is looking at the impact of online abuse - particularly on people with disabilities - responsibility for protection, whether technology companies are doing enough.The Petitions Committee is looking at the impact of online abuse - particularly on people with disabilities - responsibility for protection, whether technology companies are doing enough.
It is also examining whether the law needs to be changed, how to define online abuse and what support is given to victims.It is also examining whether the law needs to be changed, how to define online abuse and what support is given to victims.
The government's minister for women, Victoria Atkins, said she had become disillusioned with social media.The government's minister for women, Victoria Atkins, said she had become disillusioned with social media.
"I've come off Twitter because I was so fed up of it. I was fed up with the death threats and the nastiness, from people who often live many, many miles away from my constituency," she told BBC Radio 5 live's told Emma Barnett."I've come off Twitter because I was so fed up of it. I was fed up with the death threats and the nastiness, from people who often live many, many miles away from my constituency," she told BBC Radio 5 live's told Emma Barnett.
It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May also announced proposed new laws to stop people being intimidated in public life.It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May also announced proposed new laws to stop people being intimidated in public life.
In a speech marking the centenary of women getting the vote, she made an appeal for "tolerance and respect" and said it was unacceptable for anyone to face threats over their political views.In a speech marking the centenary of women getting the vote, she made an appeal for "tolerance and respect" and said it was unacceptable for anyone to face threats over their political views.
The PM added add that she was considering a new offence to protect politicians and their families.The PM added add that she was considering a new offence to protect politicians and their families.