Websites must ban 'cyber-bullying' videos

Websites must stop pupils posting videos of teachers or other children being bullied, Education Secretary Alan Johnson is due to announce.

Mr Johnson is due to tell a teachers' conference that so-called "cyber-bullying" is increasingly targeting teachers as well as youngsters.

He will say it is time for the "big companies" who run such websites to live up to their moral responsibility and stop publishing such videos.

At the NASUWT union's annual conference in Belfast, Mr Johnson will say: "Modern technology enables a whole range of new educational tools to be used by pupils, teachers and schools. But there exists a sinister downside as well.

"Cyber-bullying is cruel and relentless, able to follow a child beyond the school gates and into their homes.

"The online harassment of teachers is causing some to consider leaving the profession because of the defamation and humiliation they are forced to suffer."

He will continue: "The new powers allow teachers to confiscate mobile phones which film them maliciously but I believe there is a wider responsibility upon the providers of the sites which broadcast this material.

"These are big companies we are talking about: they have a social responsibility and moral obligation to act. Without the online approval which appeals to the innate insecurities of the bully, such sinister activities would have much less attraction.

"I am therefore calling on the providers of these sites to take firmer action to block or remove offensive school videos, in the same way that they have commendably cut pornographic content. By removing the platform, we'll blunt the appeal."

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