MP Sorcha Eastwood has called for urgent action against online abuse after being targeted by supporters of Andrew and Tristan Tate. The Lagan Valley MP revealed that the harassment began after she participated in a debate in the House of Commons addressing violence against women.
Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are currently facing multiple legal investigations in Romania, the UK, and Florida on charges including rape and human trafficking—which they have denied—maintain a strong online presence.
According to Eastwood, the situation escalated when Tristan Tate referenced one of her tweets in a private message, suggesting potential legal action against her. Initially, she believed that the responses she received were from parody accounts, but soon realized that she had become the target of a coordinated online attack.
Her original tweet did not even mention the Tate brothers—it was focused on Elon Musk, arguing that his social media activity should be analyzed through a counter-extremism lens. However, once the tweet was noticed by the Tates, Eastwood faced an onslaught of harassment from their followers.
“I was really concerned,” Eastwood stated. “To me, this was a direct attempt to intimidate and silence a public official.”
She detailed the abuse she received, which included threats of violence and sexual assault. Some users went as far as making explicit threats about harming her physically. The MP described the experience as “sinister” and an attack on free political discourse.
A spokesperson for the Tate brothers denied any orchestrated effort to target Eastwood. They defended Tristan Tate’s comments, stating that he was merely expressing an opinion about her tweet on Musk.
The Tate brothers, who have gained notoriety as self-proclaimed influencers promoting misogynistic ideologies, face severe legal charges. They are accused of human trafficking and other serious offenses in Romania, with additional allegations involving minors and money laundering. Furthermore, they are the subject of a European arrest warrant related to separate cases in the UK.
Eastwood emphasized the need for stronger measures to combat online abuse and protect individuals from being harassed on digital platforms. She expressed concern for those who lack the platform or resources to defend themselves against such attacks.
“If this can happen to me, it’s undoubtedly happening to countless others who don’t have the means to push back,” she stated.
Labour leader Keir Starmer previously addressed the issue, acknowledging the severity of the allegations against the Tate brothers. While avoiding specifics due to ongoing legal proceedings, he affirmed the importance of ensuring that justice is served.
Eastwood has urged the government to take a firmer stance against online abuse, calling for tech companies to be held financially accountable through stricter legislation. She believes that tackling radicalization and misinformation online should be treated as a national security issue.
“The government has taken the wrong approach,” she argued. “They need to step up and treat this as a crisis—hitting tech companies financially is the only way to get real change.”
In response, a government spokesperson highlighted the recent introduction of the Online Safety Act, which aims to curb illegal online abuse and protect users from harmful content, including misogynistic and violent material. Further protections are expected to be implemented later in the year.
Eastwood remains steadfast in her call for more robust actions, stating that without significant intervention, online abuse will continue to silence voices and undermine public discourse.
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