Hate crime judge: Social media companies must require full ID from all users

The judge who headed up a review of hate crime legislation for Northern Ireland would like to see social media companies require full identity checks on anyone using their platforms.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 1st Dec 2020, 00:00 BST
Updated 1st Dec 2020, 05:57 BST
Judge Desmond Marrinan has presented his review of Hate Crime Legislation in Northern Ireland to Naomi Long MLA, Minister of Justice. The review began work in June 2019 to find better ways to deal with hate crime in Northern Ireland. Judge Desmond Marrinan is pictured with the review document. Photo by Simon Graham Photography.Judge Desmond Marrinan has presented his review of Hate Crime Legislation in Northern Ireland to Naomi Long MLA, Minister of Justice. The review began work in June 2019 to find better ways to deal with hate crime in Northern Ireland. Judge Desmond Marrinan is pictured with the review document. Photo by Simon Graham Photography.
Judge Desmond Marrinan has presented his review of Hate Crime Legislation in Northern Ireland to Naomi Long MLA, Minister of Justice. The review began work in June 2019 to find better ways to deal with hate crime in Northern Ireland. Judge Desmond Marrinan is pictured with the review document. Photo by Simon Graham Photography.

He called for social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to be required to open offices in the UK staffed by directors who would be legally accountable under the law to ensure everyone in the UK using their social media platform would first have to verify their identity, drawing parallels with how banks normally operate.

He said there is an urgent need for greater regulation of social media companies, including a requirement for a more robust registration system for users.

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However, the judge acknowledged the Northern Ireland Assembly is limited in its powers to act, given it is a reserved matter.

He urged MLAs to either lobby the UK government to take robust action or ask it to devolve responsibility for the issue to Belfast.

Judge Desmond Marrinan said his overall conclusion was that the law in Northern Ireland is inadequate and change is needed.

“I’m quite satisfied, having spent all this time and consulted with over 65 organisations and many, many victims, that hate crime law such as it is in Northern Ireland is largely ineffective,” he said.

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“That’s the core finding from this lengthy review. It is failing victims. There is massive underreporting of hate crime, perhaps 80% or more of such crimes are not reported to the PSNI.

“And one reason that has been stressed time and time again with me by victims is that they don’t believe even when they do report it that it’s taken seriously.

“They don’t see results in court and they come away – even if there is a conviction – they come away very dissatisfied.”

Judge Des Marrinan is also calling for the authorities to take all reasonable steps to remove hate crime material from public property across Northern Ireland.

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