London ‘Thought Police’ Unit To Target Online Trolls

The London Mayor’s Office has se-up an Orwellian-style “thought police” unit in order to tackle online trolls and Internet hate speech.  The £1.7 million “online hate crime hub” unit, funded by the tax payer, is expected to run for two-years in order to help London police officers identify suspects who have said nasty things online. Rt.com reports: The Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) came up with the idea due to the “increasing role that online hate played in targeting individuals and communities.” Disguised under a “veil of anonymity” on social media, online abusers are hard for conventional police forces to find, as they lack the necessary skills and equipment. “By establishing this unit, we are sending a strong message to those who use online forums to spread hate that their actions will not be tolerated,” Metropolitan police said in a statement, as cited by The Business Standard. The newly-established cybercrime unit will consist of five trained detectives, aided by volunteers who will be urged to report both“criminal and non-criminal incidents.” Under the auspices of a joint partnership program run by police and social media services, the volunteers will learn how to use “online tools” to respond to hate [...]