September, Thursday 19, 2024

Failure to intervene on suicide website results in 50 deaths in the UK


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An investigation by the BBC has revealed that British authorities failed to take action despite receiving multiple warnings about a website that promotes suicide and has been linked to at least 50 deaths in the UK. The online forum, which remains active and accessible to anyone on the internet, has been the subject of numerous coroner warnings and police investigations. The families of the deceased, including a 17-year-old, are demanding an inquiry and immediate action to shut down the website and prevent further deaths. The forum's founders are elusive, but during the investigation, one was tracked down to their home in the US. Six coroners have written to government departments calling for action, and at least five police forces are aware of the forum but have been unable to take action due to its hosting abroad. The forum has over 40,000 members worldwide and has been the platform for over two million messages, some of which contain graphic content. The article highlights specific cases of individuals who found the forum and ultimately died by suicide, as well as the role of the forum in providing information on suicide methods and materials. The UK government's upcoming Online Safety Bill is expected to address these issues by criminalizing the encouragement of self-harm and requiring platforms to remove such content. However, there are concerns that the legislation may not go far enough to prevent access to dangerous content. The Online Safety Bill is also not expected to address the issue of anonymous hosting. The forum in question has expressed its refusal to comply with the Online Safety Bill and has vowed to ignore demands for censorship from foreign governments. Ofcom, the future regulator, has stated that platforms must take steps to prevent users from encountering illegal material and promptly remove such content when identified. The article concludes by inviting readers who have been affected by the issues discussed to share their experiences with the BBC.