Online safety bill must protect adults from self-harm content, say charities

The government has said the legislation will return with stronger protections for children, but charities say young adults can be just as vulnerable. Photograph: AzmanJaka/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The government must ensure the online safety bill protects adults from dangerous suicide and self-harm content, a group of charities including Samaritans has said, as ministers prepare to alter the legislation’s approach to legal but harmful content.

The bill is set to resume its progress through parliament but the culture secretary has signalled that a key area, which contains provisions related to suicide and self-harm content, will be altered.