In 2021, a tragedy unfolded when a 43-year-old British woman, Chloe Macdermott, took her own life after making a suicide pact with two individuals she met on an online forum. Now, the coroner investigating the case has called on tech giants Google and Amazon to take action.
The coroner, Paul Rogers, ruled her death as suicide and issued a prevention of future deaths report to tech giants Google and Amazon.
Power to prevent tragedies
trending now
-
)
Tsunami alert issued in Japan after powerful earthquake
-
)
Rewind 2023: India has 204 space startups, sector received $123mn investments
-
)
ISRO successfully launches XPoSat on first day of new year 2024
-
)
Bedbug-related consultations spike in Tokyo, Osaka amid increasing infestations
-
)
Arrests in Germany over ‘Cologne cathedral attack plot’: Police
-
)
On New Year’s Day, Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of attacks
-
)
Top 10 news: Russia launches drone strikes on Kharkiv, Xi hails China’s economy in New Year speech, & more
-
)
China ‘will surely be reunified’, says President Xi Jinping in New Year’s speech
-
)
Is this a goodbye for just this season? Big B’s tearful speech on KBC 15 leaves internet confused
-
)
Elections for stability or turbulence? What 2024 will bring for Indian subcontinent’s capitals
-
)
Indian family found dead in their US mansion, gun retrieved at scene
-
)
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe plans to ‘touch the Sun’ in 2024
-
)
US: School, college mourn death of Indian-origin student Arianna in ‘murder-suicide’ case
-
)
India’s 2023: G20 summit, ‘Melodi’ selfie feature in Prime Minister’s Office highlights
In the conclusion of the suicide report, coroner Rogers said that he believed Google and Amazon have the power to prevent tragedies like this.
The report has also been sent to the home, health, and culture secretaries and the national lead for suicide prevention at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, reports The Guardian.
He said that it was a matter of concern that the forum used by Macdermott, and other forums like it” encourage suicide, assist it by provision of information about suicide methods, counsel suicide by providing information about it and thereby potentially facilitate the commission of a criminal offence in the United Kingdom”.
The forum “permits material to be exchanged and viewed within its open chatrooms whereby suicide is encouraged, assisted, counselled and procured through the provision and exchange of information and methods,” he added.
“No age or other restrictions are in place to prevent access to children, vulnerable teenagers and vulnerable adults. No prominent signposting is in place to organisations from whom help is available to prevent suicide. Posts are made by users containing details of methods of suicide without any effective administration to remove such harmful content.”
The organisations now have 56 days to respond with an outline of how they will attempt to prevent future deaths and a timetable for doing so. Furthermore, if no action is taken, they must explain the reasoning behind that.
What happened to Chloe Macdermott?
On May 23, 2021, Chloe Macdermott who had been struggling with mental health issues for a few years, made a suicide pact with two people she had met online.
While searching for ways to end her life, the 43-year-old stumbled upon an online forum where she planned suicide. Using the poison she bought from Amazon, she killed herself.
(With inputs from agencies)
If you or someone you know wants help for mental well being, don’t hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602
WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations
