Katie Price will appear before MPs to give evidence about online abuse after her petition demanding the Government take action against internet trolls garnered more than 220,000 signatures.
She will give evidence to the Commons Petitions Committee on Tuesday February 6 about her call to make online abuse a specific criminal offence and to create a register of offenders.
The MPs launched an inquiry into online abuse after the TV personality’s petition “brought to Parliament an issue that has not been widely discussed”.
The former glamour model has long complained about the abuse suffered by her disabled son Harvey and in her petition said: “I have tried my best to expose people and even had two arrested but nothing was done and there were no repercussions or penalties for this behaviour.”
Harvey, 15, who is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome, was targeted on Twitter last year by an unnamed 19-year-old who received a caution from Sussex Police.
Katie Price with her children Junior, Harvey and Princess (Sean Dempsey/PA)
The Petitions Committee will look at the impact of online abuse – particularly on people with disabilities – responsibility for protection, whether technology companies are doing enough, whether the law needs to be changed, how to define online abuse and what support is given to victims.
Committee chairwoman Helen Jones said: “Katie Price’s petition, which has been signed by more than 220,000 people, has brought to Parliament an issue that has not been widely discussed – how online abuse affects people with disabilities and their families.
“The Government and Parliament are looking at how to tackle online abuse, and we’d like to ensure that the particular issues faced by disabled people are at the heart of those discussions.
“We’ll be speaking to disabled people and other experts about what needs to change.
“We’ve also invited Katie Price and her son Harvey to Parliament to tell us about how online abuse has affected their family.”