A STATES Member has called for a social media monitoring scheme to protect Jersey politicians from online abuse, warning that harassment risks deterring people from standing for election.
Deputy Hilary Jeune said she had been pushing for action through the Diversity Forum after hearing concerns raised internationally about the effect of online abuse on women in politics.
“I was triggered to do this from attending a British Islands and Mediterranean Women Parliamentarians Conference where we discussed how to retain women in politics,” she said.
“The concern was that at the time, Scotland and the UK, were about to go into
elections and a high number of women had said they were stepping down from politics citing online abuse.
“I know this is the worry in the upcoming Welsh elections also. Scotland also has
a monitoring system. It was with this in mind I have pushed for this to be part of the Greffe offered to politicians.”
Under similar schemes trialled elsewhere, including in Wales, posts are monitored using recognised systems and flagged when certain thresholds are reached.
It follows growing concern among States Members about the impact of social media, with some reporting threats, personal attacks and distressing comments.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan recently said social media had caused “sleepless nights” and “played havoc” with his family, while Deputy Inna Gardiner has reported abuse, including racial language and death wishes.
But Housing Minister Sam Mézec warned that a taxpayer-funded scheme would not “get to the root of the problem”, while Treasury Minister Elaine Millar questioned whether it would have public backing.
- Read the full big read on the topic on pages 12–13.
