Jeremy Vine is 'sickened' because Twitter is yet to delete account of Alex Belfield

After being held responsible for stalking four people, Alex Belfield was given a five-and-a-half-year term last week. He encouraged his followers to target his victims by posting words and videos about them online. Vine said on BBC Two's Newsnight that he was "broken" that social media companies "don't care" about organizing such content.

"I was frightened of what he could do to my family," he admitted. I was terrified since dealing with this requires thinking creatively around the edges.

And, you know, we've seen MPs attacked with knives, slain, and significant individuals. So, I'm not trying to elevate myself too much here, but I needed to consider this.


When questioned about the actions of the two most prominent social media platforms during the incident, Vine stated he was "amazed" at how challenging it was to convince YouTube to take action.

"They remove specific videos, and after his conviction, they demonetize him. But fifty percent of the videos concerning me are still online, "he claimed. The videos will "forever be out there" because Belfield instructed his viewers to duplicate and distribute them, Vine said, adding, "I've got to live with it." However, YouTube is not responsible for hosting this content. They are indifferent, "said the journalist.

He criticized Twitter because he said Belfield still had an account despite being in jail and expressed his disdain at their lack of morals.

Vine reported that Belfield had released a video announcing his intention to resume operations. Even though there were already restraining orders in place for eight people, he continued, "depriving them of their platform" was the only thing that could be done.

Justice Saini, the sentencing judge, informed Belfield that one of his victims was "seconds short of ending his own life as a consequence of your actions." Vine claimed on Newsnight that "someone would have been killed" if the courts had allowed Belfield to continue. He expressed concern that one of the 400,000 viewers of Belfield's films may "carry a knife or acid to my home" at some point.