Calls Grow to Shut Down ‘Vile’ Death Video Site as Ofcom Gains New Powers

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Calls Grow to Shut Down ‘Vile’ Death Video Site as Ofcom Gains New Powers

 

Bereaved families are demanding that Ofcom take action against a "vile" website that showcases videos of their loved ones' deaths. The site, which will not be named, has amassed over three million members and contains thousands of graphic images and videos of real-life murders, suicides, and extremist executions. According to the BBC, some former members of the site have gone on to commit school shootings and other violent crimes.

 

 

As of Monday, Ofcom has been granted new powers to combat illegal content under the Online Safety Act, which includes material promoting terrorism or banned extremist groups. However, despite these strengthened regulations, it is uncertain whether the site can be shut down entirely.

 

 

The website's administrators have stated that they will give their "full attention" to any requests made by Ofcom. Under the new law, platforms must demonstrate they have systems in place to remove illegal content, and failure to comply could result in court orders to block sites or fines of up to £18 million. Additionally, by the summer, all sites must introduce strict age verification measures to prevent children from accessing harmful content.

 

 

However, critics argue that the law lacks strength and that Ofcom is not being assertive enough in its enforcement. Mike Haines, whose brother David was murdered by the Islamic State (IS) in Syria in 2014, has condemned the website. The full, uncensored video of David’s murder remains accessible on the site.

 

Mr. Haines describes the platform as "vile" and says its content is "horrifying." He is particularly alarmed by the lack of effective age verification, fearing for the impact on young viewers. "It's like a drug," he warns. "Once you've had your first taste, you want another taste. So you want to see more, and it becomes more violent and more graphic and more disgusting."

 

David Haines' daughter, Bethany, is equally distressed. "For years I have been trying to keep track and report sites such as this one. I have a fear that my son will one day see the video of his grandfather."

 

Mr. Haines insists that authorities must act immediately. "Every second that we delay in shutting this site down, we are endangering our youth."

Since the Online Safety Act was passed 18 months ago, Ofcom has been developing the codes of practice that platforms must now adhere to. The regulator can now investigate and penalize sites that host illegal material.

 

The website categorizes its videos into different sections, including executions by extremist groups, people being burned alive, decapitated by vehicles, and individuals crushed by trains. While not all content on the site is considered illegal, experts warn that exposure to such violent imagery can desensitize viewers and contribute to radicalization.

 

An investigation into user accounts has uncovered links between the website and known extremists. Among its former users are two teenagers who carried out school shootings in the US.

 

In December, 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow opened fire at her conservative Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin, killing two people and injuring six. The following month, 17-year-old Solomon Henderson carried out an attack in a school cafeteria in Antioch, Tennessee, killing one student and injuring another before taking his own life. Both had been active members of the website, which even offers a "school shooting compilation" video.

 

The UK has also seen a connection between the site and violent crime. Nicholas Prosper, 19, who pleaded guilty to the murders of his mother and two siblings, was a member. When police arrested him in September last year, they discovered a shotgun and 30 cartridges nearby, leading authorities to believe he was planning an attack on his former primary school in Luton. Prosper had expressed an interest in mass shootings, particularly the infamous 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

 

Dr. Olivia Brown, an expert in radicalization and extremism at the University of Bath, warns of the dangerous effects of repeatedly viewing violent content. "What might have seemed like an impossible solution to what someone might be feeling, would then become something that might feel like a viable option," she explains.

 

For grieving families, the existence of this site is profoundly distressing. However, a significant challenge for Ofcom is that the site is hosted in the US, and both its owner and administrators remain anonymous.

 

Based on a report by BBC  2025-03-19