Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on coroners’ reports of deaths associated with online suicide forums.

The Ministry of Justice has worked closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on measures to support coroners when investigating child deaths, including those by suicide.

Measures in the Online Safety Act 2023 give OFCOM the power to require regulated online platforms to provide them with information on a child’s use of their platform, when a coroner gives notice that such information is required for an investigation into the death of a child.

The Data (Use and Access) Bill, which is currently before Parliament, contains provisions to enable coroners to require relevant online services to retain data relating to a child’s online activity, where the coroner considers this may be relevant to an investigation into a child’s death. This is facilitated through the coroner giving notice to OFCOM, enabling them to direct the relevant services to secure the data so that it will be available upon request, should the coroner later require it as part of their investigation.