Overview

This bill mandates Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, to create a unit advising the government on how social media platforms contribute to self-harm and suicide. The unit will assess the extent of harmful content, evaluate current regulations, and propose improvements to prevent such content.

Description

The bill compels Ofcom to establish a dedicated unit focused on online self-harm and suicide prevention. This unit's key responsibilities include:

• Assessing harmful content: Determining the prevalence of social media content that incites, encourages, or assists serious self-harm or suicide-related activities.
• Evaluating current regulations: Analyzing the effectiveness of existing regulations in tackling this harmful content.
• Recommending regulatory changes: Proposing improvements to social media platform regulations to enhance suicide and self-harm prevention.
• Considering search engines: Advising on the role of search engines in accessing harmful content.

The bill defines "serious self-harm" as anything amounting to grievous bodily harm under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. It also includes exceptions for self-expression, providing social support, seeking help, and activities aligned with evidence-based prevention strategies.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify a direct cost figure. The financial impact will depend on the resources Ofcom allocates to the new unit, including staffing, research, and operational expenses. These costs would be absorbed within Ofcom's existing budget or through supplementary government funding.

Groups Affected

This bill will primarily affect:

• Ofcom: They are legally required to establish and fund the new unit.
• Social media platforms: They will be subject to increased scrutiny and potential regulatory changes based on the unit's recommendations.
• Users of social media: The bill aims to protect vulnerable individuals from harmful content, but the specific impact on users will depend on the future implementation of regulatory changes.
• Government: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will receive advice from Ofcom's new unit and will likely make policy decisions based on it.

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