Sunday Mirror launches clean up Twitter campaign

The Sunday Mirror has launched a campaign urging Twitter to “clean up” the site following its investigation into paedophiles using the social network to trade child abuse images.

Two people were arrested following the paper’s investigation into suspected paedophiles on Twitter last month

The paper called Twitter a “paedophiles’ playground” after it revealed how the site was being used to distribute images, videos and information about children.

Yesterday the paper outlined its “five-point plan” for cleaning up the website:

“1. Change policy: Currently Twitter DOES NOT automatically remove obscene images and does not block links to external sites without notice – including child abuse images.

“2. Use Photo DNA to identify images: This is used by other social networking sites.

“3. Use keyword search software. This identifies and stops keyword searches which paedophiles use to find each other online.

“4. Mediate content. Whether images or text, manually by using the software technology available.

“5. Work with police. It is currently a very lengthy process for law enforcement to get information from Twitter.”

Dominic Herbert was the lead reporter in the Sunday Mirror’s investigation into child abuse on Twitter.

He told Press Gazette: “The disturbing feature of it is how easily paedophiles find each other and how easily we found them,” adding: “We are the first newspaper to look into this situation.

“Before I had witnessed what these people were doing, I didn’t believe it could be so widespread. But, looking back now, it seems hardly surprising because paedophiles are always looking for new platforms. Twitter is the latest thing.

“I’ve covered a lot as a reporter, but this was the most shocking story I’ve covered in terms of sex offenders, because it’s so widespread. It’s like an underbelly to Twitter, a parallel road, and these individuals are highly dangerous.

“That’s why the Sunday Mirror is keen to keep this campaign going. Facebook has taken a lead and now Twitter needs to follow.”