Online gossip forum Tuttlelife “needs to be shut down” because it is spreading “horrifying” content about people’s private lives, a Fianna Fail TD has said.
The website says it allows “commentary and criticism” in the public domain by people who “monetize their personal lives as businesses.”
upon news talk breakfast Today, Deputy Prime Minister Cathal Crowe said there was a “thread of hatred” on the website and that users were primarily targeting people in the UK, but it was also spreading to Ireland.
He said many Irish people living out of the public eye were the subject of vicious rumors about the Tuttle life.
“There are threads about people from RTÉ, but there are also threads about people from the local town,” Deputy Crowe said.
“I’ve seen people like local businessmen and camogie stars who lead very normal lives but have certain sections of society turned against them.
“One example: My attention was drawn to a Midland boutique owner who is not a celebrity, but is doing his best and running a great business.
“It seems like some people in her community are paying attention to her.”
dangerous
Deputy Crowe said the information being spread about people was dangerous.
“What you get with Tuttle is people who know you to a certain degree, and they’ll post details like where you live and where you went on summer vacation,” he says.
“I have seen pictures of the children and comments about how they are doing.
“We talk a lot about Snapchat. other social media platforms, But in my eyes, this is much worse. ”
File photo of a person using a laptop keyboard | Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA ImagesClare TD said work needed to be done to curb online abuse.
“I think this is a priority for the government and my party leadership.” Michael Martin also mentioned in Ard Fais these days,” he said.
“This is the first time social media has received so much attention in Ireland.
“We talk a lot about age verification, but when you’re talking about more knowledgeable adults, it’s a different realm.
“I think we, as a country and as a European Union, are going to stay out of this until we get to the next point. All social media accounts are verifiable”
“Who is behind it?”
Deputy Commissioner Crowe said Tuttle Life must be held personally responsible for the content on its website.
“I would like to request them immediately. [Tattle Life] Go before the Oireachtas Committee,” he said.
“At least Meta and Facebook have an identifiable person in charge and they are one entity.
“No one will ever know who runs Tuttle and who is behind it. I think it is a British platform, but they need to come before the Oireachtas.
“If they can’t explain their position and clean up their act, then we need to shut it down. I don’t know how to do that technically.”
Tattle Life had more than 370,000 users posting in more than 43,000 threads, mostly filled with gossip content.
You can listen back here:
Featured image: Teenage girl working with mobile phone, March 20, 2019.Image: Samuel Wardley/Alamy
