Gordon has presented a petition to Minister Dekker to make anonymous cross-border statements on the internet impossible. The petition has been signed by more than 41,000 people. The singer and media personality wants people to show proof of identity before they can create an account for social media.
Gordon believes that the many anonymous threats and homophobic curses he and others receive should end. He hopes that threats will diminish when people know they can be more easily traced and punished. Gordon hopes that his plan will also be treated as a ‘citizens’ initiative’ by the House of Representatives and can also play a role in a new coalition agreement.
Dekker called it an interesting proposal, although according to him there are hooks and eyes. He called people who threaten namelessly “keyboard heroes pouring shit on people from behind a screen of anonymity.” But he pointed out that in certain situations there can also be advantages of anonymous messages: “There are countries where anonymity has a certain value, because people are prosecuted for their opinions.”
Consultation with European colleagues
The demissonary VVD minister said he wants to look at the plan with his European colleagues. According to him, ‘steps’ have already been taken on this point in France.
Dekker also emphasized that threats and discrimination on the internet are already punishable and that platforms have already been regularly called upon to quickly remove hateful messages. He called on people to observe a little more decency and etiquette themselves.
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