Call for web harassment watchdog

A housing company has called for the Government to set up an internet ombudsman to protect the public from online defamation and harassment.

The Sunderland-based company wants a “fast-track” way of dealing with web-based abuse, after winning its case against rival housing company Pallion for online defamation and harassment.

Employees of Gentoo Group (formerly Sunderland Housing Group) struggled to clear their names for two years following the regular publication of false allegations on the now-closed Dadsplace website.

The misleading postings, which claimed that the employees had engaged in drug dealing, paedophilia, sexual assault, illicit affairs and corruption, lead to the company losing business and damaged the reputations of the staff.

Gentoo used electronic means to trace the anonymous postings to rival Pallion. After a lengthy court battle, Pallion’s John Finn accepted responsibility for the publication of the defamatory messages on Wednesday.

Gentoo Group Chief Executive Peter Walls is leading the calls for the creation of a Government-led body to tackle online defamation and harassment.

“It is disappointing that these allegations could be made and could remain online for so long, too long,” he said.

“Unless you have the resources of a company, how can you stop such a campaign of online harassment? Ordinary people do not have the funds to engage in High Court legal battles so there must be a new ombudsman to champion the protection of people’s reputations online.”

The victims now plan to contact politicians in order to raise awareness of the risks of internet attacks and to call for an ombudsman to protect the people’s reputations online.

www.gentoosunderland.com

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