Dean Russell and Suzanne Webb, Member of Parliament for Watford and Stourbridge respectively, have successfully campaigned for Zach’s Law to be included in the Online Safety Bill - to make it an offence to electronically send or show flashing images to someone with epilepsy with the intention of causing them harm.
Suzanne Webb spoke with such passion in the Chamber and made reference to Dean bringing forward his skills in technology and experience in this area which added real value to the discussions. Suzanne paid tribute to the world leading work which has resulted from this law being included in the Online Safety Bill.
Dean has campaigned on this issue for more than a year after hearing of the traumatic and targeted online attack of Zach Eagling, who was diagnosed with both epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Zach was subjected to a targeted and malicious online attack after his mother, Claire Keer, posted Zach’s achievements of completing 130 laps of their garden unaided in his efforts to raise donations for the Epilepsy Society. Hundreds of flashing images were sent to Claire’s account with the intention of causing Zach to experience a seizure.
Unfortunately, Zach’s experiences were not unique as thousands of other messages were sent to the Epilepsy Society's account and the accounts of followers. This continues to this very day.
As a member of the Draft Online Safety Bill committee, Dean scrutinised the provisions to ensure there would be protection for those with epilepsy from being sent flashing images, a proposal that was suggested by the Law Commission in June 2021.
After the Draft Bill Committee recommended Zach’s Law be included in the Online Safety Bill, Dean engaged directly with executives of online platforms and social media bodies to ensure protections were in place to protect young and vulnerable users.
Yesterday, Zach’s Law (New Clause 53) has passed through the House of Commons and will be included in the Online Safety Bill which, if receives Parliamentary approval, will be made into law early next year.
The amendment makes it a criminal offence to deliberately send or show flashing imagery to someone they know, or reasonably suspect, to have epilepsy with the intention of causing harm. Anyone who is found to be liable can be imprisoned for up to 5 years, fined, or both, in England and Wales. Dean and cross-party MP’s have been commended by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for their passionate campaigning and dedication to ensure Zach’s law is put on the statute book.
This essential amendment to the Bill is a huge success for the young campaigner, Zach, who has worked so hard with his brilliant family to bring this to the attention of MP's and the Committee.
With oversight from the online regulator, Ofcom, social media companies will now legally be required to crackdown on perpetrators and ensure protection for young and vulnerable users.
