Online harassment must be met head-on: tech summit panel

Austin, Texas

ONLINE harassment and sexism is demeaning women and can no longer be brushed aside as an ugly side of social media and the gaming industry if they are to thrive, panellists on Saturday said at the South By Southwest (SXSW) tech meeting in Austin.

The gaming summit at one of the premier events on the global tech calendar had faced threats of violence, prompting organisers in October to initially suspend two panels on the subject. After facing a flood of criticism from online media firms, SXSW organisers reversed course and set up a full day of discussions on the subject.