Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Online Harassment

Wednesday 17 December 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sarah Smith (Hyndburn) (Lab) inquired about the harassment faced by Jay Slater's family and the need for meetings with victims to discuss tackling abuse.
  • Edward Morello (West Dorset) (LD) questioned how to ensure online safety measures address the sharing of real-world violent content that retraumatises victims.
  • The Minister thanked Sarah Smith and mentioned that the Secretary of State will meet bereaved families in the new year to discuss these issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Smith Lab Hyndburn
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The family of Jay Slater, a constituent who tragically died last summer, has been subjected to online harassment and misinformation. This is not an isolated case, as similar content creators are targeting multiple victims through 'tragedy trolling'.

Question

My constituent Jay Slater's family have faced horrific harassment and misinformation while grieving his death. Sadly, this is not unique; the same content creators target other victims. Will the Minister meet these victims to explore tackling this abuse and allowing families peace?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Kanishka Narayan)

I thank my hon. Friend and pay tribute to Debbie, Jay Slater's mother, who has dealt not only with her son’s death but also ongoing harassment. After meeting the MP and Debbie, I raised this issue with platforms. The Secretary of State will meet bereaved families in the new year; I am keen to continue our engagement to support victims.

Answered
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Q2 Edward Morello Lib Dem West Dorset
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

In West Dorset, a 14-year-old girl was brutally attacked and the assault was filmed and circulated online, leading to further harassment. This amplifies real-world violence through humiliation and continued trauma.

Question

How will we ensure that online safety measures address sharing of real-world violent content that retraumatises victims and leads to further harassment?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Kanishka Narayan)

I thank the hon. Member for raising an important point. The Online Safety Act 2023 focuses on illegal content, particularly to keep young people safe under child safety duties. If there are specific instances, I am happy to raise them with Ofcom and platforms.

Partly answered
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