Channel Islands internet domains block suicide promotion

The company said the changes would close a loophole there appears to be in Channel Islands law

The use of Channel Islands internet domains for the promotion of suicide and self-harm has been blocked.

It follows UK broadband providers blocking an online forum promoting suicide after it was linked to more than 50 deaths.

The internet domain registry ChannelIsles.net oversees the use of .gg for Guernsey and .je for Jersey.

It has amended its terms and conditions to disallow use of the domains for such websites.

The firm said this followed a review which said while it was illegal to promote suicide in the UK, the legal position in the islands "remains somewhat unclear".

'Close the loophole'

Use of the domains was already on condition of it not being for any illegal purpose.

The company said the changed terms and conditions would "close the loophole that it appears the existing law... might provide".

It said the move aimed to discourage pro-suicide websites from moving their operations to Guernsey or Jersey web addresses when they find themselves banned elsewhere.

Dr Nigel Roberts, founder of Island Networks which ChannelIsles.net is part of, said: "This is something I have personally pushed for - I have myself experienced the hurt and loss that both suicide and attempted suicide can cause as have other people in our organisation.

"Today's change is a small amendment, to some extent symbolic, but if just one person stops to think, or this stops someone else encouraging a suicide, it will 110% have been the right thing to do."

The organisation said it wanted to make it clear the changes would not impact sites campaigning for legal reform in areas such as assisted dying.