Coroners and bereaved parents could be granted access to data on the phones of deceased children under last-minute changes to the government’s Online Safety Bill.
Families of young people who took their own lives after accessing harmful online content watched on as the government – at the eleventh hour – agreed to support an amendment designed to force tech firms to hand over data relevant to the circumstances of a death.
The measure, brought by cross-bench peer Baroness Beeban Kidron on the last day of the bill’s committee stage, will give Ofcom the power to request the information from tech platforms on behalf of parents and coroners, and detail what information might be relevant to the case.
This could include the content the child viewed or otherwise engaged with, and the ways in which they did so.
Baroness Kidron told Sky News the government had now promised to ensure her amendment will be part of the bill.
She said: “It’s had tremendous support in both Houses… across all parties.
“It’s quite complex because it also involves the Ministry of Justice, the Chief Coroner and DCMS [Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport], but today we are very optimistic that the final bill will include important and maybe shape-shifting agreements.”
“There’ll be some further action to ensure the whole ecosystem surrounding bereaved parents is humane, effective and swift.”
Many of the bereaved families watched the debate from the public gallery, including the mother of Archie Battersbee, the father of Molly Russell and the parents of Olly Stephens.
“There is criminalising data on our son’s social media feed but we can’t get our hands on it without this piece of legislation,” said Stuart Stephens, whose son Olly, 13, was lured over social media to a field near his home before being attacked and killed.
“Our lives have been on hold because of the need for that data, so I think including Ofcom in this will put that right. The process needs to be more humane, right now it’s cruel,” added Olly’s mum Amanda.
Mariano Janin lost his wife four months after his daughter Mia took her own life after being bullied online.
“My wife couldn’t cope with the situation, and after two years I’m still in the process of trying to get information from Mia’s social media accounts,” he said.
“There’s nothing worse than losing a child and then continuing to have loss,” said Lorin LaFave whose 14-year-old son Breck Bednar was murdered after being groomed online.
Ms LaFave, who helped found the Bereaved Families for Online Safety campaign, told Sky News: “We’re all immensely passionate about making sure changes are made to keep children safer online”.
Hollie Dance, whose son Archie Battersbee died in August 2021 in a “prank or experiment” gone wrong, said new information could help reopen the inquest into his death.
“If this goes through we’ll be able to access every single thing Archie looked at. It may be that the internet had nothing to do with it but at least it will be one less question going around in my head.”
Ian Russell’s daughter Molly died in 2017 after viewing masses of online content related to suicide, depression and anxiety.
“It’s too late for the Russell family,” Mr Russell told Sky News. “Too late for Molly. But I hope that it will make the tragic journeys for families, who find themselves in similar situations, easier to bear.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Alternatively, letters can be mailed to: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS.