Self-harm bill targets online trolls

The Online Safety Bill is to be updated to criminalise the encouragement of self-harm, the UK Government has said.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said the update would create an offence that would target content that encouraged someone to physically harm themselves, making it illegal to do so, and bringing it in line with communications that encourage suicide – which are already illegal.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said the changes to the Online Safety Bill had been influenced by the case of Molly Russell, the 14-year-old London schoolgirl who took her own life in November 2017 after viewing social media content linked to self-harm and suicide.

“I am determined that the abhorrent trolls encouraging the young and vulnerable to self-harm are brought to justice,” said Donelan. “So I am strengthening our online safety laws to make sure these vile acts are stamped out and the perpetrators face jail time.

“Social media firms can no longer remain silent bystanders either and they’ll face fines for allowing this abusive and destructive behaviour to continue on their platforms under our laws.”

The Online Safety Bill is due to return to the UK Parliament early in December after a number of delays and updates. The new measure would be included in amendments to the bill but Donelan’s department could not say when.