Racist slurs, rape threats, sexual harassment, misinformation – the internet is awash with vicious trolls and bad actors, lowering the quality of public discourse and creating a culture of hatred and mistrust.

What can be done? Removing the cloak of online anonymity that allows people to hide their identity seems an obvious solution. That would allow users recourse to the law if they fall victim to online abuse. But many argue that a ban on anonymity would do more harm than good. In myriad ways, they say, the internet is still living up to its original promise to be a place where people can express themselves without judgment, whether it is a gay person from a strictly religious background exploring their identity in a chatroom or an anxious teenager seeking support from a self-help forum. Online anonymity also allows whistle blowers and activists to speak out without fear of harmful consequences to themselves, and it enables undercover journalists to join groups and expose wrongdoing. 

In February 2022 we were joined by tech writer and podcaster Jamie Bartlett, MP Margaret Hodge and online safety campaigner David Babbs, as they discussed and debated the practical steps that can be taken to clean up the toxic culture of the internet and make it safe for all.