Social Media: Suicide
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with Ofcom on the use of its powers under Schedule 11 of the Online Safety Act 2023 in the context of online forums that share instructional content on methods of suicide.
Answered by Feryal Clark
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is carefully considering Ofcom’s categorisation research and advice and will make Regulations as soon as reasonably practicable.
Ministers have regular meetings with Ofcom on a range of online safety related subjects. The Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom’s CEO on 10 September requesting an update on the regulator’s approach to monitoring small but risky online services, including how Ofcom will use the full force of enforcement. Ofcom’s CEO responded on 11 September. Both letters are available online:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-we-do/public-correspondence/
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