Parents should have right to access children's social media accounts after their death, MPs told

Aerial view of a child accessing social media apps on a smartphone
-Credit:PA Wire/PA Images


MPs have been told that parents should be given the "moral and humane" right to access their children’s social media accounts after they pass away. Lola McEvoy, Labour MP for Darlington, cited the case of Ellen Roome, a grieving mother who is seeking answers about her 14 year old son Jools Sweeney's death in April 2022, suspecting it may have been due to an online challenge gone awry.

Ms Roome has claimed that tech companies have denied her access to the accounts, which could potentially provide insight into his death, stating she needs a court order to do so. After a petition calling for a debate on the matter garnered over 126,000 signatures, MPs discussed "Jools’ Law" on Monday, which would grant parents the right to view their children’s online activity posthumously.

Ms McEvoy praised Ms Roome’s efforts and read out a statement from the campaigner.

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It read: "In my case, and that of other parents, when the child has died who are we protecting? The predators on these platforms? Social media companies?

"Surely I should have the right to look for answers to the cause of death. Jools’ young friends struggle to understand why he is no longer here.

"The ripple effect of his death is felt not only by us as his parents’ but also by Jools’ friends, teachers and everyone in his life who were so shocked as to why he ended it.

"We deserve possible answers or at least to try for them.".

Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham, Max Wilkinson said social media companies “placed process ahead of compassion” in Jools’ case and put his mother through a “cruel and inhumane process” in seeking answers about her son’s death.

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Mr Wilkinson went on to say: "Sadly in recent weeks and months we have seen social media companies make increasingly vociferous claims that the protection of free speech and freedom of expression online must come above all else.

"The examples of Elon Musk’s bizarre approach to X and Meta’s decision to ditch moderation in favour of community notes are instructive about what is happening and what could happen next."

The Online Safety Act, enacted in 2023, stands as the UK's inaugural serious attempt to regulate platforms like social media, search engines, messaging services, gaming, dating apps, adult content, and file-sharing websites. It empowers Ofcom with the authority to levy massive fines—reaching into the billions for the biggest sites—against companies that fail to fulfill their responsibilities to users.

Moreover, in extreme circumstances, they can seek authorization to block access to websites within the UK.

Labour MP for Sunderland Central, Lewis Atkinson kicked off the debate by urging the Government to implement enforcement of age requirements on social media platforms.

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He said: "As the level of public concern recognises it is beyond doubt that there have been significant exposure of many children to online harms and that the action in response to that has not yet been sufficient or fast enough to meet the challenges.

"Most popular services require users to be at least 13 years of age before they can be used, but enforcement of that requirement has historically been lax and the age assurance requirements outlined in the Online Safety Act must be implemented without delay."

Mr Atkinson further noted he understands parents' "instinct" to want access to their children’s social media accounts, but stated "broad overarching parental rights" to such accounts "would not be appropriate" given teenagers have a "long-established right to privacy".

He alluded to times when teens benefit from online privacy, like "understanding their own sexuality" before ready to confide in a parent or "alerting others" if facing abuse at home.

Technology minister Feryal Clark acknowledged the government's dedication to rolling out the Online Safety Act, stating it is "focused on building the evidence base to inform any future action".

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Clark also expressed gratitude towards Ms Roome for her "tireless campaigning", noting: "I know that you have waited a long time for change and we have a long way to go still.

"Working with Ellen, the Bereaved Families for Online Safety group, other parents, and civil society organisations, we will build a better online world for our children."