Here's the situation: On 8 April 2025, we received a formal letter from the UK communications regulator, Ofcom, informing us that they had officially opened an investigation into Sanctioned-Suicide.net under the UK's
Online Safety Act 2023. While we typically do not comment on regulatory interactions, we feel it is necessary to inform the community of what is happening and how we are responding.
Timeline of Events & Our Response
Let's walk through the sequence that led to this point, so the situation is fully understood:
- March 3, 2025: Ofcom issued a legally binding information request under the Act, demanding a copy of our illegal content risk assessment by March 31. We responded and requested an extension, which they granted.
- March 27–April 1, 2025: We exchanged multiple emails with Ofcom. In these, we clearly stated that we do not operate in the UK, do not target UK users, and are not subject to UK law. We emphasized our platform is U.S.-based, with no infrastructure, operations, or revenue connected to the United Kingdom.
- April 1, 2025: Ofcom insisted that our site is still "capable of being used in the UK" and therefore within their scope, despite most UK ISPs already blocking access to us at the behest of the UK government. They also claimed that our platform posed a "material risk of significant harm" to UK users, though they failed to provide any concrete data or evidence to support this claim.
- April 4, 2025: We formally replied, reiterating that we would not comply with further requests and that their claims of jurisdiction were invalid. We requested they withdraw the information notice.
- April 7, 2025: They responded again, repeating their earlier assertions and pushing for compliance before the final deadline. We did not submit the requested material, and on April 8, 2025, they formally announced the investigation.
Ofcom's Allegations
In their opening letter, Ofcom claims we may have failed to comply with the following obligations under the Online Safety Act:
- Section 9: Conducting and keeping records of an "illegal content risk assessment"
- Section 10: Taking proactive safety measures to mitigate harm from "priority illegal content"
- Sections 20 & 21: Providing clear reporting and complaint mechanisms
- Section 23: Maintaining adequate documentation
- Section 102(8): Responding to an information notice
Their justification for opening this investigation is their belief that some UK residents may still be able to access the site, despite ISP-level blocks, and that content on the platform may present a risk of harm to those users.
Our Legal Position: No Jurisdiction
We have made it absolutely clear to Ofcom:
Sanctioned-Suicide.net is not within the scope of UK law. Their continued insistence on jurisdiction is legally indefensible and raises serious concerns about regulatory overreach. To clarify:
- We are a U.S.-based platform. We have no offices, infrastructure, or staff in the UK.
- We are not commercially active in the UK. We generate no revenue from UK users and do not advertise or market our services there.
- Access from the UK is already severely restricted, with most major UK ISPs blocking access due to political pressure.
- We do not "target" the UK under any meaningful interpretation of the law.
Their standard—that a site being "capable of being accessed in the UK" constitutes a jurisdictional link—is dangerously broad. Under that logic,
any site on the global internet could fall under Ofcom's purview, regardless of whether it targets the UK or not. This is not only unsustainable—it flies in the face of international legal norms and principles of digital sovereignty.
Selective Enforcement and Inconsistent Standards
We also question the
proportionality and
focus of Ofcom's actions.
There are numerous social media platforms operating within the UK and profiting from UK users that host massive volumes of self-harm or suicide-related content—often algorithmically recommended. These services are not subject to the same degree of scrutiny or threat of enforcement, despite their real-world influence and scale.
Meanwhile,
Sanctioned-Suicide.net is a non-commercial, volunteer-run discussion platform with strict moderation rules against explicitly unlawful content. We do not profit from user activity, and we do not tolerate content that encourages or incites illegal acts. Yet we are being singled out for enforcement based on the premise that some UK residents may be circumventing government restrictions to access our site.
U.S. Law and Executive Order 14149
We have also pointed out to Ofcom that their actions may
conflict with U.S. national policy.
In
Executive Order 14149, issued by President Donald J. Trump, the United States declared:
This means we are legally and constitutionally obligated to resist foreign attempts to suppress protected speech originating from U.S. soil. If Ofcom proceeds with threats of fines or attempts to pressure U.S.-based service providers to deplatform us or block our infrastructure, we will refer this matter to the
Office of the United States Trade Representative, as well as
Congressional oversight committees for diplomatic escalation and possible retaliatory trade actions.
Where We Stand
- We will not be submitting any internal documentation to Ofcom.
- We reject the assertion that the Online Safety Act applies to our platform.
- We will continue to moderate our site based on our own standards, not foreign laws we are not subject to.
- We have filed a formal procedural complaintunder Section 9 of Ofcom's Online Safety Enforcement Guidance regarding:
- Their baseless jurisdictional claim
- Their failure to provide supporting evidence
- Their use of intimidation tactics
- Their selective enforcement
- Their lack of transparency in cross-border regulatory matters
Final Word
We are committed to maintaining an open platform for discussion, subject to our own moderation standards and the laws that apply to us here in the United States.
We will not kowtow to foreign governments attempting to regulate American speech beyond their borders. The principles of digital sovereignty, free expression, and jurisdictional restraint matter—and we will defend them.
If Ofcom or the UK government escalates this further, we are prepared to meet the challenge head-on.
