BackLAW
Ofcom fines pro-suicide forum £950,000 for not blocking UK users under Online Safety Act
Ofcom fined a pro-suicide online forum £950,000 for failing to adequately block UK users as required by the Online Safety Act. The investigation, running from March 2025 to April 2026, concluded the site posed a serious risk of harm despite some blocking attempts. The regulator gave the provider 10 working days to comply and indicated it may seek a court order to block access if payment is not made.
Why It Matters
This is a notable enforcement under the UK's Online Safety Act, signaling that platforms with UK users must actively mitigate illegal content that could cause harm.
Timeline
3 Events
Fine issued and compliance steps outlined
May 13, 2026
On May 13, 2026, Ofcom fines the forum £950,000 for failing to comply with duties to assess and mitigate the risk of UK users encountering illegal content under the Online Safety Act. The regulator notes that while there were some blocking attempts, they were not good enough or consistently applied. The provider is given 10 working days to comply, and Ofcom plans to apply for a court order to require internet service providers to block access to the site. The regulation cites the forum as linked to at least 50 deaths, including Vlad Nikolin-Caisley (17) and Aimee Walton (21).
Investigation concludes; blocking deemed insufficient
April 2026
The investigation ends in April 2026. Ofcom states the forum's blocking of UK users was insufficient and not consistently applied to reduce the risk of harm.
Ofcom opens investigation under Online Safety Act
March 2025
Ofcom launches an investigation into the pro-suicide forum in March 2025, the first of its type under the Online Safety Act, with the inquiry running through April 2026.