A member of Parliament has confronted a TikTok executive regarding a mother’s struggle to obtain information about her teenage son’s unexpected death. Cameron Thomas, a Liberal Democrat MP, brought up the case of Ellen Roome, whose son Julian “Jools” Sweeney, 14, tragically took his own life in 2022. Roome suspects her son may have died while attempting an online challenge and is among several British families taking legal action against TikTok over similar incidents.
During a parliamentary session, Thomas questioned TikTok’s senior government relations and public policy manager, Giles Derrington, about the company’s handling of the situation. Derrington acknowledged the gravity of the circumstances and mentioned ongoing legal proceedings that limit the information he can provide. He explained that due to data protection regulations, TikTok is mandated to delete certain data after a specified period, but he did not confirm whether the data related to Jools was still accessible.
Roome has been advocating for legislation, dubbed “Jools’ Law,” that would require preserving a child’s online data within five days of their passing. This initiative gained support from government officials, with a recent amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill aiming to enforce data retention by social media platforms.
In response to growing concerns, TikTok expressed willingness to engage with the government on legislative changes. Roome also advocates for banning social media access for individuals under 16, a measure currently under government review. Her efforts have drawn attention from public figures like Lauren Cowell, who joined the campaign to address online safety issues for minors.
The debate over social media restrictions intensified following Australia’s implementation of a ban, with other European nations considering similar measures. Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of such bans, as highlighted by a Meta representative citing challenges faced in Australia due to age verification limitations.
Despite resistance from some quarters, MPs are set to vote on proposals for social media restrictions, as part of broader online safety initiatives. The government is exploring various measures, including curbing addictive app features and implementing nighttime curfews, amid ongoing deliberations on enhancing digital safety regulations.