UK Online Safety Bill to criminalise encouraging self-harm

Earlier this week, the British government announced other new offences being added to the Bill that would crack down on the sharing intimate images without consent.

(PA)

The UK's Online Safety Bill is to be updated to criminalise the encouragement of self-harm, the government has said.

British Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said the update would create a new offence that would target communications that encourage someone to physically harm themselves, making it illegal to do so, and bringing it in line with communications that encourage suicide – which are already illegal.