Jools' Law: Bereaved mum backs data disclosure law change
A bereaved mother is calling for social media firms to hand over children's data "now, before it's too late". Ellen Roome, 48, from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire said she might never understand why her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney took his own life three years ago.MPs could agree on Wednesday that tech giants must hand over children's data to parents if their child has died as Max Wilkinson, the MP for Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, has proposed an amendment to the Government's Data Bill."If they've still got the chance to change it now, I want the Data Bill changed so that this is in there and we don't have to wait years for a new law to go through," Ms Roome said.
Jools died in April 2022, and Ms Roome believes his death could have been linked to an online challenge gone wrong.She said if social media companies gave bereaved parents access to their child's data and a harmful trend had a role to play in their death, parents and coroners could "stop it happening to other children"."If we've got a chance to change it, we need to do it now, before it's too late," she said.
The proposed bill would allow bereaved parents to request their child's user data from up to 12 months before their date of death.Ms Roome sold the financial services business she had for 18 years to campaign for Jools' Law – a right for parents to access their deceased child's data without a court order.She said: "There's so much sextortion, blackmail, bullying online that I just think that has to form part of an inquest these days."Ms Roome said when she spoke to social media firms in her efforts to access her son's data she found they feared being fined or, in some cases, they did not respond.She added Jools had "presented no mental health problems" and described her son as "very bright", "quick witted" and "very polite".Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Mr Wilkinson said his amendment "comes down to everybody doing the right thing"."This is just about the law keeping up with the way that families live their lives, that young people live their lives, and that society operates," he said.
The Data (Use and Access) Bill is expected to clear the Commons on Wednesday and move closer to becoming law.The government has proposed in the draft legislation a new duty for the watchdog Ofcom to tell tech firms that they should not delete information about a child who has died, but they would not need to supply the data to parents upon request.A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: "No family should have to experience the devastating consequences of losing a child."From summer the Online Safety Act will introduce strong safeguards to protect children from harmful content online, including material encouraging dangerous stunts and challenges."In tragic cases where a child's death is linked to social media, under the Online Safety Act coroners will have the power to demand relevant data from platforms."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Healey announces £5 billion for military drones and lasers
The funding, announced by Defence Secretary John Healey, includes £4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra £1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers. It follows the publication of the Strategic Defence Review on Monday that recommended a greater focus on new technology, including artificial intelligence and drones, as an 'immediate priority'. Mr Healey said the investment would provide 'the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades' and 'ensure our armed forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world'. He added: 'We are delivering the Strategic Defence Review's vision to put the UK at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, by backing British industry and fast-tracking the kit of the future into the hands of frontline troops.' Part of the investment will see the establishment of a new 'drone centre' to accelerate the deployment of the technology by all three branches of the armed forces. The focus on drones comes as the technology has proven increasingly lethal on the battlefield in Ukraine, where it now kills more people than traditional artillery. At a meeting of allied defence ministers in April, Mr Healey said the UK estimated drones were inflicting 70-80% of battlefield casualties, while on Sunday Ukraine launched a major attack on Russian airfields deep behind the front line using a fleet of small drones. In addition to investment in drones and AI, the Government has announced an additional £1 billion for the development of 'directed energy weapons' (DEWs) during the current parliament. This includes the DragonFire laser scheduled to be fitted to the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers from 2027, with a similar system provided for the Army by the end of the decade. DragonFire and other DEWs are intended to provide a lower-cost form of air defence against targets including drones, costing just £10 per shot compared with the thousands of pounds it costs to fire existing weapons.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Vital routes to be protected as part of buses overhaul
Councils in England will put strict requirements in place before 'socially necessary' routes can be changed or cancelled, the department said. This is aimed at services to locations such as hospitals and schools. The measure is part of the Government's Bus Services Bill, which reached its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday. This will lead to an overhaul of buses, such as by giving all local transport authorities new powers to run their own services. The Government will also reduce some of the red tape involved in bus franchising, including reducing the minimum period between local areas taking control of services and being allowed to start operations. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'We're committed to giving local leaders the power to shape the bus services their communities rely on. 'Our Bus Services Bill is a big step forward, protecting vital services that people depend on to get to work, school or essential appointments. 'We have taken a decisive step towards better buses, building on our £1 billion investment to improve and maintain bus services, keeping people connected, driving up living standards and growing the economy.' Ben Plowden, of lobby group the Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Buses are the most-used form of public transport. 'Preserving vital bus services has long been central to our campaigning, so the new protections in the Bus Services Bill are very welcome indeed. 'Protecting existing services, and identifying and filling gaps in the network, is the way to ensure everyone can access opportunities and stay connected.' Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon attacked the Bus Services Bill as 'an ideological move that threatens essential services'. He said: 'They scrapped the £2 fare cap, slashed support for routes, and now want to strip away safeguards so councils can seize control of networks they aren't capable of operating. 'This is about Labour clinging to a fantasy of municipal socialism, whatever the cost to those who rely on local transport. Without the requirement to prove any benefit to passengers, Labour-run councils will be free to run yet another public service into the ground. 'We're not opposed to local decision-making. But this Bill offers no real investment, no credible delivery model, and no route to better services.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Healey announces £5 billion for military drones and lasers
The funding, announced by Defence Secretary John Healey, includes £4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra £1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers. It follows the publication of the Strategic Defence Review on Monday that recommended a greater focus on new technology, including artificial intelligence and drones, as an 'immediate priority'. Mr Healey said the investment would provide 'the most significant advance in UK defence technology in decades' and 'ensure our armed forces have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world'. He added: 'We are delivering the Strategic Defence Review's vision to put the UK at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, by backing British industry and fast-tracking the kit of the future into the hands of frontline troops.' Part of the investment will see the establishment of a new 'drone centre' to accelerate the deployment of the technology by all three branches of the armed forces. The focus on drones comes as the technology has proven increasingly lethal on the battlefield in Ukraine, where it now kills more people than traditional artillery. At a meeting of allied defence ministers in April, Mr Healey said the UK estimated drones were inflicting 70-80% of battlefield casualties, while on Sunday Ukraine launched a major attack on Russian airfields deep behind the front line using a fleet of small drones. In addition to investment in drones and AI, the Government has announced an additional £1 billion for the development of 'directed energy weapons' (DEWs) during the current parliament. This includes the DragonFire laser scheduled to be fitted to the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers from 2027, with a similar system provided for the Army by the end of the decade. DragonFire and other DEWs are intended to provide a lower-cost form of air defence against targets including drones, costing just £10 per shot compared with the thousands of pounds it costs to fire existing weapons.
