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    • 213 Shares99 Views

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      Instagram vows to ban trolls who racially abuse footballers and reduce hateful DMs after coming under fire

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      INSTAGRAM has broken its silence on the racist abuse aimed on footballers and vowed to get tough on those who use the platform to send hate messages.
      The social network, owned by Facebook, has been criticised for not doing enough to prevent sick individuals racially abusing stars.

      Axel Tuanzebe is one of the many footballers to experience racist abuse on social media in recent weeksCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      They admit their systems have struggled to block many of the abusive posts from hitting home because they do not routinely screen direct messages as they are supposed to be private.
      But the company have vowed to be quicker banning those behind the racist messages and promised to work with police as much as possible to prosecute the abusers.
      Instagram said in a statement: “We want Instagram to be a place for people to connect with the people and things they love. But we also know that, just like in the offline world, there will always be those who abuse others.
      “We’ve seen it most recently with racist online abuse targeted at footballers in the UK. We don’t want this behaviour on Instagram.

      “The abuse we’re seeing is happening a lot in people’s Direct Messages (DMs), which is harder to address than comments on Instagram.
      “Because DMs are for private conversations, we don’t use technology to proactively detect content like hate speech or bullying the same way we do in other places.
      “But there are still more steps we can take to help prevent this type of behaviour.
      “So today we’re announcing some new measures, including removing the accounts of people who send abusive messages, and developing new controls to help reduce the abuse people see in their DMs.

      “Currently, when someone sends DMs that break our rules, we prohibit that person from sending any more messages for a set period of time.
      “Now, if someone continues to send violating messages, we’ll disable their account.
      “We’ll also disable new accounts created to get around our messaging restrictions, and will continue to disable accounts we find that are created purely to send abusive messages.
      “We’re also committed to cooperation with UK law enforcement authorities on hate speech and will respond to valid legal requests for information in these cases.
      “As we do with all requests from law enforcement, we’ll push back if they’re too broad, inconsistent with human rights, or not legally valid.”
      The company has promised to make it easier for users to use settings to block terms or emojis from reaching them, and says it is working on a new feature to roll out later this year which will improve the ability to stop abusive DMs reaching them.
      Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, as well as Southampton teenager Alex Jankewitz are among the many footballers to be targeted in recent weeks.
      Chelsea pair Reece James and Antonio Rudiger were also sent racist abuse, as well as James’ sister and Red Devils star Lauren.

      I’m not sharing screenshots. It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there’s nothing original in them. I have beautiful children of all colours following me and they don’t need to read it. Beautiful colours that should only be celebrated.
      — Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) January 30, 2021

      Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “For too long the world’s most popular and powerful social media companies have failed to tackle the stream of horrific racist attacks on their platforms.
      “I welcome Instagram’s improved policies but racist abuse is still a fact of life for too many people and more has to be done across the board to stamp it out.
      “We’re introducing a new age of accountability for these companies through our upcoming Online Safety Bill and this could see huge fines for firms which fail to clearly and transparently protect their users.”

      Solskjaer slams ‘disgusting’ racist abuse of Man Utd duo Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial on social media More

    • 225 Shares169 Views

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      Ian Wright’s racist abuser should have been JAILED – we will get nowhere by pussyfooting around despicable insults

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      TEENAGER Patrick O’Brien was so upset at losing a Fifa video game, he sent Ian Wright 20 racist messages on Instagram.
      Wright recoiled. O’Brien later asked his forgiveness. Well he would, wouldn’t he?

      Ian Wright’s racist abuser has dodged jail after a court hearing in IrelandCredit: PA:Press Association

      His solicitor in Tralee District Court said he was a good boy in school. Well, he would, too, wouldn’t he?
      He pleaded that the judge should put him on probation. Which he did, didn’t he?
      Wright, an outstanding commentator and wonderful footballer, speaks more common sense than a dozen of those judges and solicitors.
      He said he accepts O’Brien’s apologies but that didn’t alter the fact that he was disappointed his abuser has hardly been inconvenienced by his punishment.

      I’ll say it for Wright. O’Brien should have been jailed.
      The judge had an opportunity to set a deterrent and a precedent, but instead brushed this vileness aside as if it meant nothing.
      And so, the abuse continues.
      In our most depressing week in football Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial were all targeted, as was Southampton midfielder Alex Jankewitz.

      Humanity and social media at its worst. Yes I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am. No one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different. So sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you’re just simply not going to get it here 👊🏾
      — Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) January 30, 2021

      Rashford described the abuse as “humanity and social media at its worst”.
      And I can assure you whatever you have read, it will only be the tip of the iceberg of what these young men, and many others, are being subjected to.
      Two things become clear to me. First, we will get nowhere by pussyfooting around racism.
      It is dehumanising, humiliating and cowardly and must be treated as a most serious crime, ranked alongside assault at least.
      Wright said: “An individual wished death on me because of my skin colour.
      “No judge’s claims of ‘naivety’ or ‘immaturity’ will be acceptable to us.”

      I advise social media companies to set about catching everyone or, better, forcing people to identify themselves to send messages.

      Second, it is time the Government got tough with online social media companies, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and the rest, to ensure they act responsibly.
      Twitter, which has more than 330 million users and is valued at more than £30billion, takes no liability for comments made on its platform.
      They insist they are just “enabling communications” rather than publishing content — a crucial distinction which means they are not liable for trolling or abuse.
      Tell that to anyone, myself included, who has been on the wrong end of violent abuse, threats of rape or murder, or racism.
      If you report someone on Twitter their account may be blocked. But the troll simply sets up another account, in another name with another email address, and the abuse continues.
      So, I advise social media companies that instead of making noises about independence of views and the difficulties in rooting out these creatures, you should set about catching everyone or, better, forcing people to identify themselves when they send messages.
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      On the basis they think they can hide anonymously behind their keyboards, making it easy to identify them so they can be held responsible for their words will have the biggest deterrent of all.
      As for the abusers themselves, you are despicable.
      All 20 Premier League clubs have united and we are determined to make eliminating you, and your abuse, a priority.

      Rio Ferdinand calls on government and social media to do more to combat ‘disgusting’ racism aimed at players More

    • 213 Shares199 Views

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      Wilfried Zaha called ‘n*****’ again as he calls on Instagram to act to catch ‘stupid, racist cowards’

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      WILFRIED ZAHA received more disgusting racial abuse on social media before demanding Instagram do more to catch “stupid, racist cowards”.
      Zaha took to his Instagram story to share yet more vile racist messages, one read: “a n***** bragging about getting a wee lad arrested that’s a bit sad innit.”

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      Wilfried Zaha vented on Instagram after receiving more vile abuse

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      Zaha received another disgraceful taunt online
      It comes just two days after a 12-year-old boy was arrested for racially abusing the Crystal Palace star on the same social media site.
      Vile taunts were aimed at Zaha ahead of his side’s trip to Aston Villa.
      One read: “You better not score tomorrow you black c***.”
      Images of the American racist hate group the Ku Klux Klan were also sent to the 27-year-old.

      Zaha reflected on the last few days before sharing yet more disturbing screenshots with followers.
      He said: “This is why I don’t tend to talk even though I get stupid racist messages everyday of my life – this is why I don’t talk.
      “But the other day, I thought you know what, I’m going to out this person – it happened to be a 12-year-old.
      “How can you have such hatred at 12? And send off those things.

      “It doesn’t make a difference to me how old he is.”

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      Zaha was previously abused before the game at Aston Villa
      Zaha called for greater security protocols, such as providing your address, to link people to social media accounts.
      He added: “Social platforms like Instagram, Twitter – to make a change for people not to be able to do this and be held accountable for the stuff they send.
      “Everyone should put their proper details in…so I don’t get these messages.
      “For all the kind, supportive stuff people have been saying, I want action. I want change.
      “Unless people give their proper full details they should not be allowed to make an account because that is all cowards do.
      “These stupid racist cowards…they hide behind accounts. We can put it everywhere, on the news, but it is going to carry on.
      “Until these things are changed, then I don’t want to hear nothing man, I’m sorry.”

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      David McGoldrick was another Premier League star to be sent vile racist messages
      Zaha is not the only Premier League star to receive abuse over the weekend as Sheffield United’s David McGoldrick was also subject to shocking taunts.
      The Blades striker was called an “ape” among other vile insults just hours after Zaha revealed his barrage of abuse.
      Instagram told SunSport that “racism is not tolerated on Instagram and we have removed the accounts brought to our attention” – with the recent introduction of a setting that gives users the option to only allow people they follow to directly message them.

      Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson speaks about ‘cowardly and despicable’ racial abuse levelled at Wilfried Zaha before Aston Villa match More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

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      Cristiano Ronaldo earns £14m MORE from Instagram than he does from Juventus as he puts Messi and Kylie Jenner to shame

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is Instagram’s top earner after raking in £14million MORE from his posts than he does playing for Juventus. According to a new report from Buzz Bingo, the Portuguese superstar has retained his crown as the social media site’s highest earner. Cristiano Ronaldo earns more on Instagram than he does playing for Serie A […] More

    • 225 Shares149 Views

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      Cristiano Ronaldo earns double Messi on Instagram with £38m banked as Beckham trumps Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has been crowned the biggest earner on Instagram – smashing his celebrity rivals across the world. Ronaldo is such a huge global superstar he scooped a huge £38million just on the social media platform last year, double that of his ole foe Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo raked in over £38million for promoting posts […] More