Sky broadband blocks suicide website linked to 50 deaths

Sky Broadband says the forum will automatically be barred if home users are using its standard filters.

TalkTalk has also said the site has now been added to its list of inappropriate content and could also be blocked by users.

It follows a BBC investigation which revealed the forum has been linked to more than 50 deaths in the UK.

TalkTalk has said the forum would now be blocked for any customer with its HomeSafe safety filter activated (Image: PA)

BBC News says the site is accessible to anyone on the open web, including children and that bereaved relatives had written to internet service providers in the UK requesting they block the forum.

Sky and TalkTalk block website promoting suicide

Sky Broadband, which has around 5.7 million users, has said the forum is now on a list of websites that are blocked by its Sky Broadband Shield safety filter automatically.

The company said it had moved as quickly as possible and blocked the online forum with "immediate effect".

Meanwhile, TalkTalk, which has around 4 million users, has said the site would now be blocked for any customer with its HomeSafe safety filter activated.

It added it was unable to automatically block the site.

Bereaved relatives had written to internet service providers in the UK requesting they block the forum (Image: Tim Goode/PA Wire)

David Parfett's son Tom, 22, ended his life in 2021, after finding instructions on the forum, BBC News shared.

Responding to Sky Broadband's decision, Mr Parfett said: "It made me cry. It's pure relief, mixed with anger that Tom may still be here if [the forum] had been regulated two years ago. My sole aim has been to stop other people being influenced to take their own life."

Last week, the government's Online Safety Bill became law giving the regulator, Ofcom, further jurisdiction.

In a statement, Ofcom told BBC News: "If services don't comply, we'll have a broad range of enforcement powers at our disposal to ensure they're held accountable".