SIOBHAN BAILLIE fought back tears as she highlighted in the Commons how anonymous trolls target parents of dead or dying children.

Millions of people would be spared being 'routinely harassed' through their mobile phones under a proposed law to boost online identity verification, MPs heard.

The Stroud MP in her proposals also warned it is now normal for people to be abused online on a daily basis, with concerns raised over the circulation of indecent images and disinformation.

In her speech, Ms Baillie detailed the abuse faced by families, including celebrities and non-celebrities.

She said: “Ashley Cain, the dad of the late Azaylia Diamond Cain, a baby girl that died from leukaemia – sorry, I get upset – had me weeping when he described the trolling that her mum received.

“A brave woman I met through Instagram told me that when her baby was dying, trolls were telling her to kill her daughter by taking the tubes out of her face.

“I’m sorry that I get upset but I really struggle to say this without tears and it’s not just celebrities.

“I went down an awful internet rabbit hole last night looking at scores of parents that are trolled when their children die.”

Moving her Social Media Platforms (Identity Verification) Bill, Ms Baillie told the Commons: “It’s now normal to be called names like bitch, whore and be called a liar on a daily basis.

“Young people are sent indecent graphic images during school lessons.

“Millions of people are routinely harassed through their mobile phones.

“Parents with dead or dying children are trolled at the most painful times of their lives.”

These proposals would legally guarantee people the chance to verify their accounts on social media, while platforms would be required to offer options to limit or block interaction with unverified users.

Those wishing to remain anonymous would be allowed to use a pseudonym for their social media handle and choose whether they want to have their personal details verified.

Ms Baillie also highlighted the 'confusion' caused by misinformation and fraudulent posts, adding: “We’re regularly censoring ourselves to avoid attacks, pile-ons and rape threats.

“This cannot continue unchecked.

“I have spoken before about the misery of the dark cyber streets and alleyways.

Ms Baillie hopes her proposals will boost the Online Safety Bill, which is expected to force the biggest technology firms to abide by a duty of care to users – overseen by Ofcom as the new regulator for the sector.

The MP is planning to hold talks with ministers over her ideas and asked for the Bill to receive a second reading on March 18 next year.

It is unlikely to become law in its current form without Government support or if it fails to secure enough parliamentary time.