‘Trial by Twitter’ for those named in the BBC scandal is desperately unfair – and dangerous

‘Trial by Twitter’ for those named in the BBC scandal is desperately unfair – and dangerous

The Independent says It doesn’t take very long to browse social media and find out who the BBC “presenter” in the news is not.

It’s not Gary Lineker, it’s not Rylan Clark, it’s not Jeremy Vine, it’s not Nicky Campbell and it’s not any of the other people who’ve felt it necessary to make a denial.

All have been forced, almost blackmailed, into this by the keyboard sleuths of Twitter calling them a “nonce”, the accumulated malign speculation helpfully collated by suitable hashtags. Suddenly, we’ve all acquired the brilliant digital forensic skills of Colleen Rooney.

As more and more high-profile figures are forced through mass social humiliation to declare that it’s not them, the toxic allegations move on to other names. Eventually, via a process of elimination, the person involved will be identified. Can we doubt it? I’ve heard that the lawyers have a new concept, “Twibel”, but there’s not much sign that it’s deterring the flood of accusations.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/bbc-presenter-name-twitter-allegations-b2372418.html