Such tragedies remind us of the importance of Project Liberty. We believe this is a legal precedent, so worth sharing.
The coroner said he did not “think it would be safe" to leave suicide as a conclusion for himself to consider, instead finding Molly “died from an act of self-harm while suffering depression and the negative effects of online content”. Online material viewed by Molly Russell ‘was not safe’, Coroner concludes:
Molly Russell: Online posts viewed by tragic 14-year-old were not safe for child to see, coroner rules | Evening Standard
“This should send shockwaves through Silicon Valley - tech companies must expect to be held to account when they put the safety of children second to commercial decisions.”:
Molly Russell: Social media a factor in teenager’s death, coroner says - BBC News
It is some consolation for the parents and siblings that there will be liabilities for the effects of negative content.
Patrick
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“These young people are the collateral damage of a “move fast and break things” culture in the tech industry, where tragedy is met with a wilful corporate blindness.”:
The Molly Russell inquest verdict damns Silicon Valley. There can be no more excuses | Peter Wanless and Beeban Kidron | The Guardian
The imminent Online Safety Bill (UK) will no doubt reflect this verdict. Thanks, Patrick
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The majority agree with Martina Larkin, CEO Project Liberty:
Online Safety Bill clears final parliamentary hurdle (computing.co.uk)
Whilst this is the first ever legislation of its kind that we are aware of, we can expect other jurisdictions to take a similar stance over online safety. However, the real identities of offenders remains a challenge to be resolved.
Kind Regards,
Patrick
We felt – hoped – that the coroner’s verdict on Molly Russell’s suicide would have profound and far-reaching implications for “Harmful by design”.
- “Last week, the families in the case received a powerful boost when a federal judge ruled that the companies could not use the First Amendment of the US constitution, which protects freedom of speech, to block the action.”
- [And] “Judge Gonzalez Rogers also ruled that S230 of the Communications Decency Act, which states that platforms are not publishers, did not give the companies blanket protection.”:
‘I was addicted to social media - now I’m suing Big Tech’ - BBC News
These are encouraging decisions that underscore the importance of Project Liberty.
Kind Regards,
Patrick