Academic: internet trolls are 'Machiavellian sadists and psychopaths'

The internet amplifies harassment and bullying in the physical world, but politicians, tech companies and society all need to make the internet safe for all

Extra security guarded the door at the day-long online harassment summit Saturday at Austin's SXSW tech festival.

It's for a good reason: threats of violence often accompany those who speak about the online hate mob Gamergate and its impact on women and minorities in the video game community. Those threats led the SXSW organizer Hugh Forrest, citing "threats of on-site violence", to shut down the Gamergate discussion session. After public outcry, organizers relaunched it as a full-day program.