Net Suicide Bill would breath life into government censorship

Government moves to reduce the availability of suicide sites on the internet may herald a new era of online censorship in the UK.

Last week, Justice Minister Maria Eagle announced a review of the law on suicide. Citing the usual suspect – “public concern” – she said: “Protecting vulnerable and young people must be a priority and a responsibility for us all.

“There is no magic solution to protecting vulnerable people online. Updating the language of the Suicide Act, however, should help to reassure people that the internet is not a lawless environment and that we can meet the challenges of the digital world.

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“It is important, particularly in an area of such wide public interest and concern, for the law to be expressed in terms that everyone can understand.

“We continue to work with the internet industry to look at long-term ways to keep people safe and without jeopardising our freedom of speech.”

Or in plain English: We are finally going to do something about people who have the temerity to use the internet to talk openly about this subject. “Freedom of speech” is optional.

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