Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to legislation to ban all forms of anonymity online.

The Government believes anonymity online is an important protection for people living in oppressive regimes around the world. That said, anonymous posting should not be a tool to help those seeking to abuse others online. The Government expects all social media to make it easy for users to choose not to receive anonymous posts, to have simple mechanisms for reporting abuse and to take action promptly when abuse is reported.

Removing the ability to make anonymous postings will not prevent cyber bullying behaviour. Protecting children online is everyone’s responsibility. The position remains that where something is illegal offline it is also illegal online and there is already legislation which applies.