A British suicide forum has been provisionally found to violate the Online Safety Act after it did not adequately restrict UK users when instructed last year.
Ofcom, the communications regulator, said it may now seek a court order requiring internet providers to block the site in the United Kingdom, a step that hinges on the forum’s response within the next ten days, during which it also faces possible fines.
Coroners have flagged the forum’s connection to suicides in Britain since at least 2019, according to campaigners. The relatives of 17‑year‑old Vlad Nikolin‑Caisley of Southampton said he died by suicide in 2024 after accessing the site, which Ofcom has chosen not to identify.
Ofcom opened an inquiry in April of the previous year, noting that encouraging or aiding suicide constitutes a criminal offence in the United Kingdom.
The forum introduced a geoblock intended to limit access from devices appearing to be in the UK, yet it also displayed a notice on its homepage describing methods to bypass the restriction. After that notice was taken down, the Samaritans discovered in November that the forum could still be reached by UK users through a “mirror site” – an identical copy operating under a different domain.
Bereaved relatives and the Molly Rose Foundation – created after 14‑year‑old Molly Russell died by suicide following exposure to harmful online content – criticised the regulator for a slow response, stating in autumn that “serious questions remain about why Ofcom has delayed action on multiple legal breaches.”
Their review showed that coroners have raised concerns about a range of substance‑related or suicide forums with government bodies at least 65 times since 2019, and it noted evidence of UK deaths linked to the forum after the geoblock was introduced.
Ofcom now concludes that the forum did not meet its obligations under the Online Safety Act, which require assessing the risk of illegal material and promptly removing such content once identified.
The regulator stated: “Following a monitoring period, we grew concerned that the block was ineffective or inconsistently applied, leading to a provisional breach finding. The forum’s operator now has ten working days to answer our provisional conclusions, which will be reviewed before a final decision is reached.”
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said: “The forum is designed to manipulate and pressure vulnerable, often young, individuals toward suicide, and Ofcom’s intervention is urgently needed. It is essential that the regulator moves quickly to close the site and impose penalties proportionate to the damage caused.”
“Working with survivors and grieving families, we have identified at least 135 UK deaths linked to the forum. Ofcom must act decisively to prevent further loss of life.”
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted for support.
Read next
US officers worry Meta smart glasses could covertly record them
In January, the NYPD’s counterterrorism unit warned officers about a new security threat: Ray-Ban Meta glasses. A memo directed officers to “conduct thorough inspections of all eyewear permitted within inmate cells,” cautioning that recently arrested individuals could use the devices’ small cameras and microphones to record inside police
Google's Pixel 11 sets new standard for flagship phones, review finds
Google’s Pixel 11 continues to define what a base flagship phone should deliver, with leading cameras, extended software support and nearly all the features of its pricier siblings.
The standard Pixel 11 is priced at £879 (€999/$899/A$1,499), £80 higher than its previous version, reflecting ongoing
AI Expert Father of Three Shares Essential Insights for Parents on Artificial Intelligence
A father once promised his child they would write a story together called "The Day Nobody Went to Disneyland." The plot imagined a perfect day when the entire world avoided the park, expecting crowds, leaving it completely empty for a father and child to enjoy alone. Three decades