The government has vowed to eradicate “abhorrent trolls” who advocate self-harm online, in response to the suicide of student Molly Russell, who committed suicide after viewing dangerous social media posts.
A charity founded in memory of a teen who died after seeing content relating to suicide, despair, and anxiety has backed efforts to criminalize online content that encourages self-harm.
The Molly Rose Foundation, which was created after Molly Russell’s death, deemed the proposal to amend the Online Safety Bill a “major move.”
The modification will criminalize messages that incite individuals to self-inflict physical damage, in keeping with regulations regarding communications that encourage suicide.
In an inquest, the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) stated that the update was influenced by the tragic death of 14-year-old student Molly, who died due to “self-harm while suffering from despair and the detrimental impacts of online content.”
Michelle Donelan, secretary of culture, has threatened to prosecute “abhorrent trolls pushing the young and vulnerable to self-harm.”
She stated, “I am strengthening our online safety legislation to ensure that these disgusting acts are eradicated and the culprits face jail time.”
She added that social media companies “can no longer remain passive bystanders.”
Ms. Donelan continued, “They will be subject to sanctions if they permit this abusive and harmful behavior to continue on their platforms.”
The proposed legislation attempts to establish a new method for regulating online content, such as abusive messages, cyberbullying, and pornographic material, and will impose obligations on firms to keep people safe while maintaining users’ rights to free expression and privacy.
After a series of delays and revisions, it is scheduled to return to parliament in early December.
The idea of self-harm is anticipated to be included in bill changes; however, the DCMS has yet to specify when these would be introduced.
“Important issues we must resolve for the sake of youth”
According to the Molly Russell Foundation, amendments to the measure should not impede its progression.
“The proposal to add a new criminal offense of ‘encouraging self-harm’ in the draught Online Safety Bill appears to be a significant step,” stated a spokeswoman.
“It not only criminalizes those who encourage but also makes this behavior a crime – meaning that even if the detrimental but legal sections in the bill are deleted or limited, such content would still be prohibited by law.”
According to the evidence presented in Molly’s inquest, “harmful but lawful content” most likely caused the most harm to her mental health.
“It is essential that other ‘harmful but legal’ content, of the type we know, was destructive to Molly, be included in the bill’s reach.
“Because the devil is in the details, any amendments to the current measure should not delay its passage to the (House of) Lords to enable ample time for inspection and debate there.
For the benefit of young people in the future, we must resolve these intricate and crucial issues.
Ian Russell, Molly’s father, previously told that he wants tech companies to preserve and provide data to law enforcement and coroners more quickly.
In addition, he requested that “online search warrants” be added to the measure.
In due time, additional information regarding the maximum penalty for the offense will be disclosed.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab commented, “Those who incite vulnerable internet users to self-harm have destroyed lives and families.”
“Our modifications will ensure that the full force of the law is applied to those insensitive and irresponsible individuals who attempt to deceive the weak in this manner online,”
