UK Man Admits Encouraging Vulnerable Woman to Self-Harm, Suicide Online

Tyler Webb, a 22-year-old from Loughborough, has become the first person in the UK to be charged under the Online Safety Act 2023 for encouraging serious self-harm online. Webb used the Telegram video app to repeatedly urge a vulnerable woman he met online to harm herself and ultimately to take her own life during a 44-minute call. Despite his persistent efforts, the woman did not die, though she did harm herself and sent Webb photographic evidence of her injuries. Webb admitted to one count of encouraging suicide and one count of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm during a hearing via videolink from a mental health facility. The Crown Prosecution Service emphasized that Webb knew the woman was vulnerable and likely to act on his requests, making his actions especially grievous. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 4, 2024.