Edinburgh West MP call for misogyny to made a hate crime
Christine Jardine MP has called on the Government to make misogyny a hate crime, warning that the law must keep pace with the growing scale of abuse and harassment faced by women, particularly online.
The Edinburgh West MP highlighted the rise of technology-facilitated abuse, including AI-generated deepfakes, coordinated online harassment and footage of women being filmed without their knowledge and shared online for entertainment and profit.
While recent legislation has recognised hostility based on sex as an aggravating factor in certain offences, Jardine said the Government should go further and ensure crimes motivated by misogyny are properly recognised and recorded.
Christine Jardine MP said: “Women should not have to accept misogynistic abuse and harassment as an inevitable part of being online or simply going about their daily lives.
“Technology is creating new ways for women to be targeted, humiliated, and exploited, and our laws must keep pace.
“The Government has taken some welcome steps, but it must now go further and ensure women have the protections they deserve.”