Twitter instals 'report abuse' button to beat the trolls

Twitter has introduced a “report” button for users who are sent abusive messages after a number of women were targeted by trolls on the site.

There was a public outcry over high- profile cases of women subjected to vile abuse and rape threats online, including Labour MP Stella Creasy.

The politician had offered support to freelance journalist Caroline Criado Perez, who was targeted over her campaign to have novelist Jane Austen featured on a new UK banknote.

Ms Creasy received death threats and disturbing pictures, leading to the arrest of the man who sent them, while classicist and television historian Professor Mary Beard, Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman, Independent columnist Grace Dent and Europe editor of Time magazine Catherine Mayer and others were also attacked.

Twitter UK manager Tony Wang apologised, saying the abuse was “simply not acceptable”. Ms Criado Perez, from north London, said: “It’s great that Twitter has listened. There are still issues: users have to agree for the report to be potentially shared with the harasser, and there are some boxes that could be auto-populated that aren’t. But overall, this is a fantastic first step.”

Twitter said the roll-out of the in-Tweet report button had taken place ahead of schedule and it was already available for iPhone users.

Users can report individual tweets for abuse or spam on Android and on twitter.com. Kim Graham, who started the Change.org petition for Twitter to do more to protect its users, welcomed the move. She said: “I’m thrilled that Twitter has started making progress on this. Online bullying and harassment has been too common for too long, and this is a very welcome first step toward online safety for women.”

At least three people were arrested over the abuse and Scotland Yard’s e-crime unit is examining further allegations against eight people.