Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have publicly commended campaigners following the UK Government's announcement of proposed amendments to children's social media data storage regulations. The changes, embedded within the Crime and Policing Bill, were directly influenced by the persistent efforts of the Jools' Law campaign.
The Tragic Inspiration Behind the Campaign
The Jools' Law campaign was initiated by Ellen Roome from Gloucestershire, after the devastating loss of her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, in 2022. Ms. Roome strongly believes her son's death was linked to an online challenge, a suspicion that has led her and several other British parents to pursue legal action against the social media platform TikTok in the United States courts.
A Statement from the Sussexes
In a statement released on their official website, sussex.com, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex expressed their admiration for Ellen Roome's unwavering dedication. "We first met Ellen in New York last year, where she shared Jools' story with the same determination that's now changed the law," they wrote.
The couple highlighted that Jools is memorialised in their Lost Screen Memorial, an art installation unveiled in New York City last April. This poignant display features lightboxes designed to resemble smartphones, honouring young lives lost to online harms. Harry and Meghan attended a private vigil at the site, standing in solidarity with nearly fifty grieving families.
"Ellen's strength isn't unique—it's what we've seen from every bereaved parent we've worked with. Their grief becomes purpose. Their loss becomes advocacy. And now, their fight has become law," the statement continued, offering a message of hope to other parents: "To parents currently facing this struggle: you should never have been put through this. Change is possible. Ellen has proven it."
The Broader Fight for Online Safety
Ellen Roome, speaking ahead of new proposals by Sir Keir Starmer to address online dangers, emphasised the core principles of her campaign. "This is about truth. This is about accountability. This is about holding social media companies accountable when we can prove the harms they are fed online," she stated.
While acknowledging the significant progress represented by the government's legislative shift, Ms. Roome stressed that more must be done. "Whilst this is a massive step forward, we must ultimately do more to stop children being harmed or dying in the first place. Preservation after death matters. Prevention before harm matters even more," she asserted, also voicing her support for an amendment by Lord Nash to raise the age limit for accessing the most harmful platforms to sixteen.
The Sussexes concluded their statement by recognising the profound impact of individual action: "One parent can change everything. Thousands of families will now have answers because Ellen Roome refused to back down and give up. Thank you, Ellen, and all of our courageous parents."
