Parents ‘have right to social media accounts of deceased children’

BBC General View, Ellen Roome Max Wilkinson Lola Mcevoy outside Parliament during the Jools Law debate. They are wearing winter coats and looking at the camera, with the parliament buildings in the background — On Monday, MPs discussed the Jools Act

Parents should be given the “moral and humanitarian” right to access their children’s social media accounts after their death, MPs have heard.

The ruling came after Ellen Roome, from Cheltenham, contacted social media companies about the death of her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney in April 2022, believing it may have been an online challenge gone wrong.

On Monday, MPs gathered in Westminster to discuss “Jools’ Law”.

Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham Max Wilkinson said social media companies “favored process over compassion” in the Jools case.

Ellen Roome’s son, Jools’ 14-year-old son, died in April 2022

PA Media An undated family flyer photo showing Ellen Roome with her 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney, who was found unconscious in his bedroom in April 2022. They both smile at the camera and she puts her arm around him — Ellen Roome’s son, Jools’ 14-year-old son, died in April 2022

The issue has been the subject of debate after a petition calling for a new law that would allow parents to access their children’s accounts after their death was submitted to parliament after collecting more than 126,000 signatures.

Labor MP for Darlington Lola McEvoy paid tribute to Ms Roome’s work and read a statement from the campaigner.

She said: “In my case and that of other parents, when a child has died, who do we protect? Predators on these platforms? Social media companies?

“I certainly should have the right to seek answers to the cause of death. Jools’ young friends try to understand why he is no longer here.

“We deserve possible answers, or at least an attempt to get them.”

Wilkinson said social media companies subjected Ms Roome to a “cruel and inhumane process” while investigating her son’s death.

Family photo Jools sat in a river or stream of water and smiled at the camera. He has brown hair combed over his forehead — Wilkinson said social media companies subjected Ms Roome to a “cruel and inhumane process” while investigating her son’s death.

Wilkinson said social media companies subjected Ms Roome to a “cruel and inhumane process in order to obtain answers about her son’s death.”

“Unfortunately, in recent weeks and months we have seen social media companies increasingly loudly assert that protecting free speech and freedom of expression online must be paramount,” he said.

“The examples of Elon Musk’s bizarre approach to X and Meta’s decision to abandon moderation in favor of community notes are instructive in terms of what is happening and what might happen next.”

During the debate, Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty also argued that safeguards should be considered to protect vulnerable children whose parents may not have their best interests in mind.

“Building the evidence base”

Technology Minister Feryal Clark said the government was committed to the rollout Internet Security Act and “focuses on building the evidence base that will inform all future actions.”

“Working with Ellen, the group Bereaved Families for Online Safety, other parents and civil society organizations, we will build a better online world for our children,” he said.

After the debate, Ms Roome told the BBC she was very “pleased” with the result.

“Everyone seemed to support it. I hope that we will be able to meet with the minister to discuss the next steps,” she said.

“Everyone has been very positive and I think everyone wants this to happen.”