The UK Government announce further measures to be included in its Online Safety Bill.
Responding to the announcement Julie Bentley, CEO of Samaritans, said:
“Its great to see that the Government has responded to Samaritans’ call to recognise the importance of tackling illegal suicide content online by explicitly setting it out in the new law.
“However the plans still need to go further if we are to make significant progress on reducing suicide.
“Earlier this week I called for more to be done to protect vulnerable adults from legal-but-harmful suicide and self-harm content online and nothing demonstrates this more than the bereaved families who have since reached out to Samaritans to back our campaign for further action.
“People don’t suddenly stop having thoughts of suicide or self-harm the moment they turn 18 and these latest measures still do not offer the protections that are urgently needed.
“Online communities can be a real source of help, advice and support for people struggling with their mental health and we must do all we can to keep them this way while removing any content that is clearly harmful.”
Samaritans has made toughening up the Online Safety Bill one of its key campaigns.
On Wednesday this week, Ms Bentley warned that the UK Government would miss a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to protect people who are at greater risk of suicide unless it urgently took further action.
Ms. Bentley described the proposals as ‘not fit for purpose’ as they would fail to protect adults that may be in distress from all harmful suicide and self-harm material online, with only the most well-known social media platforms being required to act.
Under current proposals, smaller sites, such as online community groups, forums and message boards would only be required to protect children from content that is ‘legal but harmful’**, leaving over-18s at risk from harmful suicide and self-harm content on sites that are unlikely to provide safe moderation.
More information on Samaritans campaign for a safer internet can be found here.
ENDS
Samaritans out of hours media support is available on 07943 809162
** Examples of ‘legal but harmful’ suicide and self-harm content includes:
- Content that portrays self-harm and suicide as positive or desirable.
- Information and depictions of methods of harm.
- Graphic descriptions or depictions of self-harm and suicide.
When reporting on suicide, please bear in mind Samaritans’ Media Guidelines.
- For further advice on our Media Guidelines, contact the Media Advisory team on 07483 028725/07850 312224 or email: [email protected].