Image that shows comments on an imaginary social feed and the comments have been removed because of AI — Online abuse directed at UK politicians is well documented.

What’s less widely understood is how unevenly it’s distributed and how serious the consequences are.

MPs across Parliament face harassment, threats, and coordinated pile-ons online.

But the data is clear: some are targeted far more than others.

● Women MPs receive significantly more abuse than men

● Black women MPs receive more abuse than any other group

● LGBTQ+ MPs are disproportionately targeted, especially when advocating for equality

This is not just a personal safety issue.
It’s a democratic one.

Research consistently shows online abuse is not shared equally.

A 2022 study by Glitch and the End Violence Against Women Coalition found women MPs received over 50% more abusive tweets than men during the 2019 General Election period.

Amnesty International found Black women MPs were 84% more likely to be mentioned in abusive or problematic tweets than white women MPs.

LGBTQ+ politicians are routinely targeted with homophobic and transphobic abuse, particularly when visible at Pride or speaking on equality.

This pattern is well established and it shapes behaviour.

MPs change what they post, what debates they enter, and in some cases whether they feel safe staying in public life.

The impact goes far beyond emotional harm.

MPs report:

● Withdrawing from social media

● Avoiding certain topics altogether

● Rethinking public appearances and surgeries

● Facing security concerns for staff and family

● Questioning whether to remain in politics at all

The result is a chilling effect on democratic participation.

When elected representatives self-censor or step back, vital voices are lost. It also sends a clear signal to future candidates, particularly women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ people: this space may not be safe for you.

Abuse has escalated alongside political polarisation and is amplified by:

● Coded and indirect language that evades basic moderation

● Cross-platform harassment and pile-ons

● Bot activity and coordinated campaigns

● Impersonation and disinformation

At the same time, many MPs lack the resources to respond. Keyword filters are blunt and reactive. Reporting is slow. Platform enforcement is inconsistent. Abuse is fast, constant, and public. Protections are slow, partial, and private.

This should not be accepted as inevitable, nor left to individual MPs to manage alone. Parliamentary support structures, safeguarding teams, and technology providers all have a role to play.

**A UK-Based Digital Safety Layer for Public Figures**

Arwen!

One solution already being adopted by politicians, campaigns, and public figures is Arwen.

Arwen acts as a protective digital layer, monitoring social media in real time to remove abuse, detect threats, and support safer engagement without interfering with free speech.

Arwen: A Digital Safety Tool for Public Figures

Arwen is an AI-powered content moderation and risk detection platform designed for high-risk individuals, including MPs.

It works across three core functions.

1. Arwen Moderate

Automatically removes abusive, toxic, and impersonating content in real time.

● Works across major social platforms

● Removes over 96% of abuse instantly

● Shadow bans repeat offenders

● Supports 30+ languages

● Customisable to individual risk thresholds

This stops abuse before it reaches the MP, their staff, or wider audiences, reducing escalation and pile-ons.

2. Arwen Protect

Identifies threats, coded language, and coordinated attacks.

● Flags high-risk content for review

● Escalates to safeguarding or legal teams

● Creates clear audit trails for evidence

This has already supported political offices with risk assessment, police referrals, and staff protection.

3. Arwen Engage

Surfaces constructive comments so MPs can engage safely where it matters.

● Identifies genuine constituent feedback

● Tags content by intent, topic, and emotion

● Reduces staff time spent wading through comments

This enables engagement without constant exposure to harm.

Arwen is not a consumer app.

**It’s infrastructure, built for public figures, government bodies, and risk-sensitive organisations.**

It’s already used by parliamentary offices, local and regional leaders, public agencies, and high-profile individuals.

Crucially, Arwen is UK-based, operates under UK law, and is built in line with the Online Safety Act and GDPR. It provides transparency, audit trails, and supports safeguarding, legal, and communications teams.

Online abuse is not just a communications issue.

It’s a workplace safety issue, a democratic access issue, and a barrier to inclusive representation. MPs are operating in a hostile digital environment that has outpaced manual tools.

Solutions like Arwen won’t end abuse entirely. But they do reduce risk, protect wellbeing, and help ensure elected representatives can speak, serve, and stand without being silenced.

Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK can claim Arwen usage on their expenses, that was approved after a trial was run in parliament. For more information on protecting high-target individuals, get in touch: info@arwen.ai and arwen.ai

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