12 September 2025
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
The requirement toughens up existing requirements on tech companies to respond and remove such material. The proposed regulations will make publishing material that encourages or assists self-harm a ‘priority offence’, meaning companies must take a proactive approach.
Julie Bentley, chief executive of Samaritans, said: ‘It’s over to Ofcom now to use their powers to hold platforms to account so we can save more lives lost to suicide.’
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