Ofcom has admitted it cannot take further legal action against a pro-suicide forum that campaigners say has been linked to more than 130 UK deaths, despite the site still being accessible via VPN.
The regulator said the forum had blocked access for the "vast majority" of UK users, adding it had "no further legal routes available" under the Online Safety Act. But the geoblock can be circumvented by using a VPN to hide a user's location.
“Ofcom says no further legal routes under Online Safety Act against suicide forum linked to over 130 UK deaths.”
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, condemned the decision, saying it would "result in more lost lives". He accused Ofcom of showing "an utter lack of moral courage" by announcing the move on the day a new prime minister was named.
In response, an Ofcom spokesperson said the decision had been made a "matter of days ago" following "months of work to exhaust all possible legal routes". Bereaved families were informed of the decision this morning after being contacted last week. "In that context, we do not consider it appropriate to delay the announcement further to accommodate today's political developments," the spokesperson added.
Ofcom enforcement director Suzanne Cater said the regulator had used its powers "to the fullest extent possible". She added: "We'll continue to monitor the forum closely to check the geoblock remains in place."
The forum, which the BBC has chosen not to name due to its nature, was the first service to be investigated under the UK's online safety laws. BBC News investigations found the site encouraged young people to take their own lives and provided instructions on how to do so. It has been cited in multiple coroners' reports regarding UK deaths.
In May, Ofcom issued a £950,000 fine to the site for failing to comply with the Online Safety Act. The firm had until 12 June to pay, but Ofcom said it has not done so. If a company fails to pay, Ofcom can try to recover the debt through UK-based assets — if any exist.
Ofcom said it is now working with the government to explore whether its enforcement powers should be strengthened, particularly its ability to obtain a court order that would legally mandate internet service providers to block the website. The BBC has approached the government for comment.