UK: Online Safety Bill criticized by Samaritans for lack of protections for adults

(PRESS RELEASE) EWELL, 16-Jan-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Samaritans, a charity registered in England and Wales that works to make sure there’s always someone there for anyone who needs someone, has issues its criticism for the Online Safety Bill in the UK for lack of protections for adults.

As the Online Safety Bill returns to the House of Commons for its final debate, Samaritans, a charity organization, is urging the government to act on public demands for a safer internet. According to new research commissioned by the charity, the government’s removal of protections from damaging content for over 18s goes directly against what the public wants in this bill.

The research found that two-thirds (66%) of the public are concerned with the current accessibility of harmful suicide and self-harm content on the internet. Furthermore, three in five (63%) believe that access to potentially harmful content on the internet should be restricted for everyone, including adults.

This sentiment is shared by four in five (83%) who agree that harmful suicide and self-harm content can have a damaging effect on adults, not just children. Additionally, three-quarters (75%) agree that tech companies should be required by law to prevent harmful suicide and self-harm content being shown to users of all ages.

Only just under one in six (16%) think that access to potentially harmful content on the internet should only be restricted for children.

The research suggests that the public is calling for stronger protections against harmful content on the internet, and that the government’s removal of protections for adults goes against their demands. Samaritans is calling on the government to take note of these concerns and to act accordingly in the final debate of the Online Safety Bill.

“This is a wake-up call for the Government,” said Julie Bentley, CEO of Samaritans. “The public is demanding that tech platforms regulate damaging self-harm and suicide content, whether it is legal or not, for people of all ages. It’s unacceptable to squander a vital opportunity to save lives.

“This Bill was originally intended to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online; however, the goalposts have completely changed with important protections being limited solely to children. Of course, children must have the greatest protection, but the idea that people will stop being vulnerable the moment they turn 18 is ridiculous and puts lives at risk. The Government must rethink and move forward with an Online Safety Bill that can actually achieves what it set out to do.”

Notes to editors

For more information or interview requests, please contact Samaritans Press Office at press@samaritans.org / 020 8394 8300 or n.gnanathas@samaritans.org/ 07485345486

Opinium Research was commissioned to run an omnibus survey of 2000 UK adults between 13– 16 December 2022. Full details of the questions and results can be found here.

About Samaritans

• Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can visit www.samaritans.org
• Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help.
• Samaritans is a charity and it’s the public’s kind donations and around 20,000 volunteers that mean we are always there for anyone struggling to cope. Find out how you can support us or volunteer with us.
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SOURCE: Samaritans