Ofcom has announced it will not pursue further legal action against a US-based online suicide forum that has been linked to the deaths of more than 160 people in the United Kingdom. The media regulator stated that all possible legal routes under the Online Safety Act have been exhausted, as the forum provider voluntarily blocked access from the UK to harmful content.
Investigation Findings and Fines
Ofcom investigators discovered illegal suicide content on the forum, including instructional guides and threads detailing different methods of suicide, some of which had been available for years. In May, the forum’s operator was fined £950,000 for failing to comply with duties under the Online Safety Act, but the watchdog has not yet received payment. The US-based operator disputes UK jurisdiction, raising questions about the enforceability of the fine.
Ofcom said it has initiated work to pursue the debt, as it has with all companies that have not paid fines by their deadlines. The regulator also reviewed its powers relating to “business disruption measures,” which could require internet service providers to block access to the site in the UK, but concluded that the forum’s voluntary geoblock left no legal grounds for a court order.
Reactions from Advocacy Groups
The Molly Rose Foundation, which advocates for safer online environments and suicide prevention, expressed devastation at the decision. Chief executive Andy Burrows said: “It has taken Ofcom 468 days since launching its investigation to decide not to seek to block a nihilistic, pro-suicide forum responsible for at least 164 deaths.” He added that families and survivors have been “left devastated by this incomprehensible decision that means more vulnerable people will continue to be groomed on the site and which will ultimately result in more lost lives.”
Sarah Ruane, director of policy, practice and influencing at Samaritans, said: “We are extremely disappointed by today’s announcement from Ofcom. After months of investigating this suicide forum, and over three years since the Online Safety Act was passed, we are yet to see meaningful action against some of the most harmful sites online.” She called for a strong commitment to ensuring Ofcom has the powers needed to take decisive action.
Geoblock and Remaining Risks
Ofcom noted that since the fine, the forum made a further change to its geoblock, addressing an issue where registered UK users could still log in without a VPN. The watchdog said this means “the vast majority of UK users who do not use a VPN to mask their country location are now no longer able to access the site.” However, it acknowledged that geoblocks “do not fully eliminate all risk of harm, especially for individuals who choose to access sites through VPNs.”
Ofcom is aware of a “very small number of existing registered users” who can still access the site from the UK without a VPN due to technical reasons. The regulator said it will closely monitor the forum to ensure the geoblock remains in place. It also considered applying for a “conditional order” that would become effective if the site removes its geoblock, but the Act does not provide a mechanism for such an order.
Calls for Stronger Action
David Parfett, of Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms, said: “We continue to see suicides where victims have found information on methods online, and often have been encouraged to self-harm. The Online Safety Act in Ofcom’s hands is not working and that’s starkly measured in continued avoidable loss of life.”
Ofcom’s director of enforcement, Suzanne Cater, said: “This nihilistic suicide forum, and the predators who use it to prey on some of the most vulnerable people in our society, have devastated lives and inflicted immeasurable heartbreak. We’ve used the powers we’ve been granted to the fullest extent possible, which has resulted in blocking this site for the vast majority of users in the UK.” She added that while this may not bring closure for bereaved families, it will help protect people in the UK in the future.
