The Government is cracking down on suicide websites by rewriting
the
Suicide Act 1961 to make it easier to apply the law to the
internet.
The Government said it was responding to public concern about
links between suicide and the internet.
UK internet service providers (ISPs) already take down websites
under their control when notified that they contain illegal
material. They are also free to restrict access to "harmful or
tasteless material" in accordance with their
"acceptable use" policies, said the government.
Simplifying the suicide law should help them apply rules about
assisted suicide web content, said the Government.
Justice minister Maria Eagle said: "Protecting vulnerable and
young people must be a priority and a responsibility for us all.
Suicide is a tragic phenomenon, especially for the families and
friends left behind.
"There is no magic solution to protecting vulnerable people
online. Updating the language of the Suicide Act, however, should
help to reassure people that the internet is not a lawless
environment and that we can meet the challenges of the digital
world."
She said, "It is important, particularly in an area of such wide
public interest and concern, for the law to be expressed in terms
that everyone can understand.
"We continue to work with the internet industry to look at
long-term ways to keep people safe and without jeopardising our
freedom of speech."
Child psychologist Tanya Byron recently
submitted a report for
the Government,
entitled
"
Safer Children in a Digital World". The report identified
websites promoting suicide as an area of confusion about the law on
online activity.
The Law Commission also proposed that the language of the
Suicide Act should be changed.
The Government will work with the UK Council on Child Internet
Safety on restricting access to illegal websites. The organisations
will assess the practicalities of policing and enforcing law
online.
The National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England aims to
reduce the suicide rate by at least 20% by 2010.
European Commission to spend £42m to keep kids safe
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