The Samaritans organization, activists in the field of mental health, and the Molly Rose Foundation have repeatedly drawn attention to the site and warned about its impact. Activists mainly point to the fact that the site remains accessible despite the fact that it was mentioned in several investigative files concerning the deaths of British citizens.
The regulator Ofcom, which oversees the communications industry in the United Kingdom, has been trying since last spring to get the site’s administrator to comply with British laws criminalizing intentionally inciting or assisting suicide. The site was blocked in July of last year, but according to the latest information, it still works on another domain, even without a VPN.
“We are aware of the urgency of the situation and the extent of damage that sites like this can cause, and we understand the anger of those who have been personally affected by their impact,” said an Ofcom spokesperson. “It is essential that we ensure that our enforcement actions are thorough and this can take time, as with any enforcement agency,” he added.
Proven 164 deaths, but regulation drags on
The law under which the fine was imposed also allows the court to request that Internet providers in Britain block the website completely. Ofcom said that if the website operator continues to violate the law, they will ask the court for a measure that will practically cut off the site from access from Great Britain.
The Molly Rose Foundation was founded in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who took her own life after being caught up in a spiral of negative content on the Internet, including information about suicide. The foundation’s executive director Andy Burrows welcomed the imposition of the fine, but at the same time expressed frustration at the responsibility that remains with activist groups and the families of the bereaved.
“The Molly Rose Foundation presented detailed evidence that showed dozens of vulnerable young people remained at risk while Ofcom’s investigation dragged on… It is worth asking why it took so long for the authority to take action against a forum linked to at least 164 deaths in the UK,” the director was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
