‘IT’S GETTING WORSE’
Katie Price warns of ‘despicable, disgusting’ abuse son Harvey gets online & begs MPs to change laws
KATIE Price today begged MPs to change the law to tackle trolls, as she warned of the "disgusting" online abuse her son Harvey gets.
The reality star mum-of-five, gave evidence to MPs holding a Parliamentary inquiry into online abuse.
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This afternoon Katie and her mum, Amy, joined a video chat, to share thier own personal experiences.
Katie said the effect of the abuse is "getting worse", with "more people committing suicide".
And she revealed the trolls had even forced her to go to the Priory clinic at the beginning of the year.
She called for the "virtual bullying" to be stamped out with a new law which would see social media users have to hand over details to end anonymous abuse.
Abusers should be "named and shamed" on a register where employers can check for improper behaviour online.
She said: "We need to decide, it’s got to become a law. If it doesn’t, I will keep fighting.
"How far does someone have to go before consequences are done?"
In an emotional hearing, the former model told the committee how she spent time in the rehab centre to recover.
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She said: "I'm sick of it as well, it's become draining. I ended up going in The Priory myself at the beginning of this year because of the bullying and the trolling... we're all humans.
"I can see how people end up committing suicide because it's mental health. It's not hard, it's an easy law, it should be put in place."
The former model said when she was selling her car on Ebay the listing had to be taken down because there were so many abusive comments about Harvey.
She said she printed off the comments and gave them to the police but added: "They were disgusted but there was nothing they could do because there was nothing in place."
Her mum added: "Kate is always looking at what comes up about Harvey as she wants to protect him and her other children.
"I don't look myself and Kate forwards it on to me and we say 'what are we going to do about it?' because there is so much."
Speaking of the Harvey's Law she wants in every country, she said: "In 25 years this will be the best thing I do, because it will help people."
I'm sick of it as well, it's become draining. I ended up going in The Priory myself at the beginning of this year because of the bullying and the trolling... we're all humans.
Katie Price
Katie told MPs, who praised her work, that she didn't want to "hide him away" as she wanted him to have normal experiences.
And she revealed her son had raised £12,000 for NHS charities through his artwork.
Her mum said: "They've got to take more responsibility for policing it, and at the moment they don't [social media companies].
"It goes from the social media companies and to the police and the police have got to have laws in place, as their laws are out of date."
Harvey, who suffers from Prader-Willi Sydrome, is often confronted with sickening abuse on social media and has also urged people to stop.
And last year Katie launched a furious attack on Dapper Laughs after his friend used Harvey in a series of cruel posts.
Three years ago desperate Katie launched an online petition to make online bullying a criminal offence.
Following this she appeared before MPs in 2018, and shared horrific abuse she and Harvey had suffered at the hands of online trolls.
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In October 2017 Harvey was also the target of blackmailers who demanded £50,000 in a threatening email to Katie, saying Harvey's face would get "smashed" if she didn't pay up.
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Last week we told how Harvey was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after falling ill at his sister's party.
The 18-year-old needed "urgent medical attention" while celebrating Princess's 13th birthday.
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Katie Price reveals son Harvey complained about chest pains as she opens about his hospital dash while he sleeps next to her