Molly Russell’s dad says more teens will die after viewing vile material online because of weak new tech laws
TRAGIC Molly Russell’s dad has said more teens will die because of weak new tech laws.
Ian Russell’s 14 year-old daughter took her own life after viewing thousands of self harm images in the run up to her death in 2017.
Mr Russell spoke out after regulator Ofcom published its new code of practice for tech giants this week.
Platforms will have to do more to take down terror material, child sexual abuse and content that encourages self harm.
But Mr Russell said the rules are “timid and weak” and should go further.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, he said: “Every week that ticks past, another young person loses their life to suicide and countless others are horribly affected by what they see online.
“Governments have been asleep at the wheel. It is time to wake up to this and take a stand.”
In a direct appeal to PM Sir Keir Starmer to step in and do more, he added: “The new Labour government cannot afford to wait any longer.
“That one life lost a week must haunt their memories and be in their minds every week.”
Mr Russell is calling for an overarching duty for tech companies to prevent illegal harm – not just respond when they find it.
They should also introduce targeted action to combat illegal self harm material online, he said.
Mr Russell also hit out at a deeply disturbing new trend in which young people are groomed online and encouraged to self harm while being live streamed.
Tech bosses have “completely failed” to live up to their words and keep kids safe online he warned.
Adding: “It is time to act.”
Around 200 young people die by suicide every year, according to the National Suicide Prevention Alliance.
A quarter of these suicides were linked to online experiences, according to a study published by Cambridge University Press.
Science Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Keeping children safe online is absolutely paramount and finally next year, we will begin to see the impact of the Online Safety Act.
“While I believe this will have a significant effect in protecting children from harmful content, we will monitor its impact, and where we find problems or gaps, I am prepared to go further.”
An Ofcom spokeswoman said: “Our measures will be game changing in creating a safer life online for everyone, especially children – including action to tackle online grooming, intimate image abuse and sharing of terrorist content.
“And this is just the start.
“We are already examining how we can strengthen our measures as technology evolves, and in April we’ll set out a wide package of extra steps for sites and apps to follow.”