I don't like using the word 'victim', it implies I accept and concede to what is being done to me - I don't.
Criticised for taking my online abuse case as far as the High Court to reveal identities. Unfairly accused of 'trying to stop free speech' by a majority who did not know the truth or facts of my case. Free speech? No, that was not what my case was about. Glad it caused debate, raised serious questions, but my case was based on current defined criminal offences.
You don't get a landmark legal judgement based on no evidence. The High Court reviewed my case and backed me.
In cases that do justify legal action, for people who are assaulted online, stalked, threatened. When what is said, done by online thugs is not free speech, not a joke, not innocent, and cannot be excused or ignored - more needs to be done.
Involving police and solicitors wouldn't be necessary if websites reliably dealt with the problem in the first place. Police are just as unresponsive and largely untrained with poor results in this area of law. Lack of resources and dismissive police attitudes mean reporting credible evidence is impossible, ignored by officers who don't care and don't listen.
Police budgets are cut. Internet offences are not high priority compared to more serious crimes. Agreed... but underestimating the impact, ignoring the rise of these offences and victim blaming by police is unacceptable and has to stop.
Trust me - it's no fun living with threats and harassment from stalking twisted trolls who have your address. Knowing any certifiable obsessive with a grudge can get to you online and at home, unchallenged, trying to use control to torment and suppress their victims.
My case is cited as an extreme example of an organised malicious sustained 'trolling' hate campaign targeting me.
Three years of it on and offline, still no prosecutions.
No one case has been influential enough to make a real difference. Ordinary victims more often than not end up like me, back at square one, worse off than before, with no hope of justice.
Tackling trolls isn't the main battle, it's struggling against the internet giants and justice system to get them into a court - that's the real WAR.
Too often victims are let down by those who don't understand how social media works, how professional trolls operate online. More cooperation is needed between websites and authorities. As the internet evolves and technology advances, so will the online abusive culture. With no consistent effective solutions from the networks or the authorities to deal with it successfully for all.
Simply deleting our online accounts is NOT a solution. Trolls attacking me online isn't my failure. Fake IP accounts? Websites avoiding responsibility? Authority ignorance? I think it is a combination of all these factors. I could take a vow of silence, live in a remote cave with no communication and they'd still target me.
By sticking my head above the parapet, making my intentions of pursuing my abusers through the courts public, that action alone brought down more warped 'troll wrath' on me - more than my online presence ever has. My win against Facebook, knowing who trolls are, incited and fuels their fixated vengeance against me.
I can't put the genie back in the bottle now.
Criminal trolls are winning the fight on the net. Unchallenged on website platforms that provide their secure domain, facilitating them. Offenders know networks won't identify or prevent them voluntarily and stretched police won't pursue them properly, if at all.
I can't go back and I can't go forward. Living in limbo - As much a 'victim' of the authorities 'turn a blind eye' policy as I am for the same festering trolls, same stalking abuse I reported from 2011 to now.
Websites, government, police and CPS will never get the confidence respect and thanks of the public affected - while these escalating crimes still go largely unsolved and un-prosecuted.
Beyond The Ballot is The Huffington Post UK's alternative take on the General Election, taking on the issues too awkward for Westminster. It focuses on the unanswered questions around internet freedom, mental health and housing. Election news, blogs, polls and predictions are combined with in-depth coverage of our three issues including roundtable debates, MP interviews and analysis
