Online trolling of public figures 'should be considered a hate crime'

Professor Mary Aiken: 'We have seen social media platforms self-regulating for far too long. This is the crux of the problem.' File Picture: iStock

The online trolling of public figures should be considered a specific hate crime, a professor of cyberpsychology has said.

Speaking at the Oireachtas Joint Media Committee on Tuesday, chairwoman of the Department of Cyberpsychology at Washington DC’s STEM University, professor Mary Aiken, said that politicians and other public figures are regularly subjected to online abuse by trolls.