Web pages which promote suicide should be shut down like terrorist propaganda, new report says
Research by a Tory MP called for the Government and internet giants to take action
WEBSITES which promote suicide must be removed from the internet just like terrorist propaganda, a new report argues today.
Research by a senior Tory MP found that one in eight young people who try to kill themselves use the internet to research suicide.
Grant Shapps called on ministers to consider "restricting access" to sites which give instructions on suicide to vulnerable web users.
And he suggested Google and other search engines should push down the sites in their results - and offer links to helplines instead.
In a report released today, Mr Shapps pointed to academic studies which suggest 12 per cent of those aged 16-24 who try to commit suicide use the web as part of their attempt.
He found that websites including Wikipedia hosted graphic suicide-related content which could help drive vulnerable people to suicide.
The report said: "The Government must do more to restrict access to certain sites, pages, or chatrooms that exist primarily to promote suicide and self-harm.
"Such information serves no positive purpose, and the Government should be taking a much more aggressive approach in encouraging sites like Wikipedia to establish more responsible practices."
Mr Shapps also called on web giants including Google, Microsoft and AOL to act on the material which is linked to on their platforms.
He said they should "create signposts on their webpages with helpline numbers for those who appear particularly vulnerable".
That means that when suicidal people type worrying search terms in, the first thing they say is a link to a helpline rather than posts which could encourage them to self-harm.
He also demanded changes to search engines so the "auto-complete" function doesn't suggest phrases which could put vulnerable users in danger.
Mr Shapps, the former Tory party chairman, said: "The research identified some extremely positive and deeply negative aspects of the internet and social media, with regard to suicide prevention."
In response, Google said: "We take our duty to ensure that our platform is used responsibly and not to cause harm very seriously."
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Twitter also promised to take action to protect suicidal people in the wake of the report's findings.
Barnardo's boss Javed Khan said: "Grant Shapps is correct that much more needs to be done to protect children from such shocking material.
"It’s vital the Government works closely with mental health charities, internet companies and content creators to work out when and how restricting such items is appropriate and necessary."