Mother Campaigns for Access to Deceased Son's Accounts

Ellen Roome, a mother from Cheltenham, is advocating for 'Jools' Law' to allow parents access to their deceased children's social media accounts after her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, died in April 2022, potentially due to an online challenge gone wrong. Roome has criticized social media companies for their refusal to grant her access to Jools's accounts, which she believes could provide crucial insights into his death, stating that they require a court order and citing privacy concerns. With over 126,000 signatures on her petition, the issue is scheduled for debate in Parliament. Jools was found unconscious in his bedroom, and while a coroner ruled his death a suicide, they could not confirm his mental state prior to his death. Roome has spent significant resources attempting to retrieve data from social media platforms, which have largely denied her requests, leaving her frustrated and seeking answers. She emphasizes that her campaign is not just for her son but aims to help other families who might face similar tragic circumstances.