Bereaved mum one step closer to online law change

A bereaved mother's campaign to allow parents access to their children's social media accounts has advanced after she met peers at the House of Lords.

Ellen Roome, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has been fighting for a change in the law after her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, took his own life in April 2022.

She believes her son died after an online challenge went wrong and that his social media accounts could provide the answer but she has, so far, not been allowed to access them.

"I can't actually believe I got this far," said Ms Roome. "It suddenly feels like it might actually happen."

Ms Roome discussed Jools' Law, which would enable families to access user data from up to 12 months before the date of their loved one's death, with a group of peers on Monday.

An inquest into Jools' death found he took his own life but the coroner at the time said it was unlikely he intended to end his life.

Forensic data of Jools' phone was not gathered at the time.

Some social media companies have told Jools' family that they cannot release the data because of issues around privacy.

Ms Roome discussed an amendment to the crime and policing bill with peers in the House of Lords.

While the amendment would not be called Jools' law, it would still automatically preserve children's online data following a death so that a coroner could access it.

"Although it has to be debated by the Lords in January, there is a strong possibility this might happen," Ms Roome said.

"I pray this will go through in the new year."

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