###### Created: 2023-10-25 11:05 ###### Author: BBC ###### Areas & Topics: #medicine #ethics ###### Note Type: #literature ###### Connected to: [[]] ###### Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67082224 - 50 Deaths in the UK have been linked to an online forum that actively promotes suicide and details various suicide methods - The government was first warned about the forum in 2019, but failed to act. - Even with the Prevention of Future Death reports from various coroners, nothing had been done. - Lamarcus Small was one of the co-founders of the forum (although he claims to no longer be involved). - Additionally, people were buying poison from a Canadian man called Kenneth Law, who they found the details of through the forum. - He has now been implicated with over 88 deaths and is being tried in Canada. - Because of this and other online issues, The Online Safety Bill is coming into royal assent (meaning its being passed through as an Act of Parliament) - When it becomes the Online Safety Act, it will be a criminal offense to encourage self-harm online - However, the website in question has stated it will not comply with the UK Online Safety Act and is encouraging users to use a VPN.