GMB's Richard Madeley furiously slams social media giants for inaction about online racism

Richard Madeley has furiously hit out at Twitter and Facebook regarding their tackling of online racist abuse

The Good Morning Britain presenter and co-star Susanna Reid were speaking with Daily Mirror Assistant Editor Darren Lewis and The Diana Award Chief Executive Tessy Ojo about abuse online on Wednesday’s instalment.

During the discussion about how ‘watershed moments’ come and go with little change about racism in society, Richard read out statements from social media giants Facebook and Twitter.

Richard said: “I’ve got a statement here that I’ve got to read from Facebook, we’re obliged to say this.

Susanna responded: “Why are we obliged? Sorry, when you say we’ve got to read it..."

Good Morning Britain's Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid spoke with Daily Mirror Associate Editor Darren Lewis and The Diana Award Chief Executive Tessy Ojo (ITV)

“Well, it’s on the autocue,” noted Richard. “I’m the new boy here, if it’s on the autocue I thought it had to be read.

“There it is, Facebook says: ‘Nobody should experience racist abuse anywhere.’

“Oh really? Thanks for that insight. And they ‘don’t want it on Instagram ’.

“Well, you’ve got it on Instagram guys!”

Richard angrily blasted the statements from Facebook and Twitter (ITV)

He went on: “Carrying on with the statement, they ‘quickly removed statements and accounts directing abuse at England’s footballers.'

“No you didn’t, they were up there for hours and hours and many were still there.

“And they continue, they say, to ‘take action against those who break the rules’.”

Richard added: “Well, not enough!”

The presenter then read out a statement from Twitter, saying: “Twitter says ‘abuse has absolutely no place on the platform’.

Richard described the statements as "words" and said they weren't moving fast or far enough (ITV)

Richard then angrily stated: "Oh really? Well, it’s on your platform. What do you mean there’s no place for it on the platform? It’s on the bloody platform! Pardon my French."

He then continued: “‘In the past 24 hours', they say, 'a combination of automation and human review has moved over a thousand tweets.'

"There’s a lot more than a thousand tweets out there."

Susanna then questioned if this was the same thousand tweets they claimed to have removed the day before, while Richard called the statements just “words”.

Good Morning Britain airs on weekday mornings from 6am to 9am on ITV with past episodes on ITV Hub.