Banned suicide website reappears under new domain, Ofcom confirms
An online pro-suicide forum that had previously blocked UK users has reappeared under a different domain name, according to media regulator Ofcom.
The controversial US-administered website agreed to restrict access to UK users on 1 July, following growing concern over its links to multiple deaths. However, Ofcom said this week that a mirror version of the site had briefly become visible again to people in the UK.
The regulator confirmed it was investigating why the block was ineffective and said the incident raised serious concerns about how such restrictions are maintained.
“We are concerned, however, that the forum’s block of UK users was ineffective and/or was not consistently maintained and that similar issues may arise in the future,” Ofcom said in a statement.
The site, which the BBC and Ofcom are not naming, has been linked to at least 50 deaths in the UK since 2023. It reportedly hosts discussions and materials that encourage self-harm and suicide methods.
One parent who lost a child to the site said the latest development shows that blocking alone is not enough to protect vulnerable people.
Graham Caisley, whose 17-year-old son Vlad used the site before taking his own life in May 2024, said:
“Blocking the site is a bit pointless because people can get round blocks and the site will still be there.
I think if people started getting punishments for hosting this sort of content then something would change.”
Mr Caisley said his son had been “encouraged” by other users to end his life and swallowed poison he bought online after being active on the forum.
He added that authorities needed to do more to hold site operators accountable for the harm caused.
Ofcom said it acted quickly after being alerted by the suicide prevention charity Samaritans that the forum had resurfaced under a new name. By Friday, the regulator confirmed, the website was once again inaccessible to users with UK IP addresses.
Emily Kell, Samaritans’ Online Safety Lead, welcomed Ofcom’s swift response but called for stronger measures to prevent similar cases.
“We’re really pleased that Ofcom have continued their investigation into this specific site, following evidence we shared with them,” she said.
“However, we know more needs to be done to tackle harmful online content, particularly around small but high-risk platforms and emerging risks, such as AI (artificial intelligence).”
The case highlights the growing challenge for regulators in policing harmful online spaces, as many such forums operate across borders and can easily reappear under new domains to avoid restrictions.
Pictured: The Southampton teenager, Vlad Nikolin-Caisley, who sadly died after swallowing poison he bought online.
