A Football Association executive accused social media companies of treating abuse as a “golden goose” as the former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand revealed how members of his family would “disintegrate” over the online abuse he has suffered.
Edleen John, the director of corporate affairs and co-partner for equality, diversity and inclusion at the Football Association, told MPs and peers that online abuse was a “golden goose” for social media firms because it amplified their audiences. She added: “What we are seeing from social media companies is significant resistance and a desire to focus on a business model and making money.”
John added that the FA had been told of one case of a professional footballer being “blocked” by a social media company from making regular complaints about online abuse. “They were blocked from reporting the abuse that they had consistently received,” she said.
Ferdinand said the impact of racist abuse on footballers went beyond the professionals and extended to friends and family.
“It’s not just about that person, it’s the wider network of that person and what it does to family and friends,” he said. “I’ve seen members of my family disintegrate at times, I’ve seen other sports stars’ family members taking it worse than the actual person who’s receiving the abuse.”
They were speaking at the opening hearing of a joint committee scrutinising the draft online safety bill, a landmark piece of legislation that aims to tackle abuse...
Read Full Story: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/09/fa-executive-accuses-social-media-firms-of-using-hate-as-golden-goose
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