Implement crisis-interruption protocols in UK search engines
The Issue
We are Pause Before Harm!
A campaign for crisis-interruption protocols across UK-facing search engines - limiting algorithmic access to material that facilitates suicide and serious self-harm.
The digital world we live in today means that anyone, especially young and vulnerable individuals, can stumble upon dangerous advice and communities online. Search engines play a crucial role in this by suggesting or amplifying results without deeper scrutiny of their potential impact on someone in crisis. A simple search can lead a distressed individual down a rabbit hole of harmful information that should never be readily accessible.
Research by the Royal Society for Public Health found that 69% of young people in the UK who had engaged in self-harm stated that they had learned new methods online. Furthermore, Samaritans' data shows a significant increase in distress calls linked to online content. These statistics highlight an urgent need for responsible interventions in how search engines operate.
We are calling on major search engine companies operating in the UK to implement robust crisis-interruption protocols. These protocols should involve stringent content filtering when specific keywords related to self-harm or suicide are detected. For the safety of users, it's imperative that search engines provide immediate resources and contact information for support organizations such as Samaritans or Mind, rather than directing them to harmful content.
Some countries have already pioneered online safety acts with much success. In Australia, the Online Safety Act 2021 has provisions for regulating harmful online content. A similar model could be adapted here in the UK, fostering a safer browsing environment.
This petition is not about censorship instead it’s about nurturing safe spaces online for all users. It's a simple change, but one that could save countless lives and spare families unspeakable grief.
Please sign this petition to urge search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo to step up their measures and take responsibility for the safety of their users. Together, we can push for change that benefit future generations.
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The Issue
We are Pause Before Harm!
A campaign for crisis-interruption protocols across UK-facing search engines - limiting algorithmic access to material that facilitates suicide and serious self-harm.
The digital world we live in today means that anyone, especially young and vulnerable individuals, can stumble upon dangerous advice and communities online. Search engines play a crucial role in this by suggesting or amplifying results without deeper scrutiny of their potential impact on someone in crisis. A simple search can lead a distressed individual down a rabbit hole of harmful information that should never be readily accessible.
Research by the Royal Society for Public Health found that 69% of young people in the UK who had engaged in self-harm stated that they had learned new methods online. Furthermore, Samaritans' data shows a significant increase in distress calls linked to online content. These statistics highlight an urgent need for responsible interventions in how search engines operate.
We are calling on major search engine companies operating in the UK to implement robust crisis-interruption protocols. These protocols should involve stringent content filtering when specific keywords related to self-harm or suicide are detected. For the safety of users, it's imperative that search engines provide immediate resources and contact information for support organizations such as Samaritans or Mind, rather than directing them to harmful content.
Some countries have already pioneered online safety acts with much success. In Australia, the Online Safety Act 2021 has provisions for regulating harmful online content. A similar model could be adapted here in the UK, fostering a safer browsing environment.
This petition is not about censorship instead it’s about nurturing safe spaces online for all users. It's a simple change, but one that could save countless lives and spare families unspeakable grief.
Please sign this petition to urge search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo to step up their measures and take responsibility for the safety of their users. Together, we can push for change that benefit future generations.
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Petition created on 6 September 2026