David Cameron says web companies need to step up to the plate and take responsibility for what's posted on their sites and he's calling for a boycott of websites which allow anonymous bullying. The Prime Minister has been speaking out following the death of 14 year-old Hannah Smith, who took her own life after being targeted by anonymous bullying on the question and answer website ask.fm.
Mr Cameron has encouraged those using this site and others to take action.
He said:
"There's something all of us can as parents and users of the Internet. And that is not use some of these vile sites, boycott them, don't join them."
The Prime Minister's also warned those who are involved in the bullying.
He said:
"If you incite someone to do harm or violence, that is breaking the law whether that's online or offline. I want to make sure we take as much action as we can."
The teenager from Lutterworth in Leicestershire received messages criticising her appearance and telling her to kill herself. Since her death, her sister Jo has also received online abuse. Their father David has called for ask.fm to be closed down.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror he said:
"They need to look at the regulations on websites now and sort it because the laws aren't changing and they need to.
"Me, personally, I think ask.fm, the people that run it should get done for manslaughter or murder because you try contacting them and they just don't care.
"They don't care that teenagers are dying and killing themselves. It can't be right.
"These websites should be got rid of. If nothing else they need to be regulated. They need to stop people doing this."
Keno Ogbo is the Founder of Spiral Web Solutions - including Christian social networking site Spiral Universe. She tells Premier's Victoria Laurence on the News Hour we can't just blame those running the websites.
The Latvian Government's condemning the website.
Justice Minister Janis Bordans said they'll be investigating whether the website could prevented the bullying:
"This is devastating moment and absolutely there is no doubt we have to do everything that we can together with all countries involved."
Eight firms, including the charities Mind and Save the Children, have now withdrawn advertising from Latvian based website ask.fm.
A statement from Save The Children said:
"We put the welfare of children first and as a result of the tragic case of Hannah Smith we no longer advertise on ASK FM."
A spokeswomen for ask.fm said:
"We would like to convey our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
"We have reached out to the Leicestershire police and would be happy to co-operate with their investigation into the true circumstances of her suicide.
"Ask.fm actively encourages our users and their parents to report any incidences of bullying, either by using the in-site reporting button, or via our contact page. "All reports are read by our team of moderators to ensure that genuine concerns are heard and acted upon immediately - and we always remove content reported to us that violates our terms of service."