An emotional mother has spoken of her 'bittersweet' honour from the King, awarded for her relentless campaign to improve children's online safety in the wake of her own son's tragic death.
A Campaign Born from Tragedy
Ellen Roome appeared virtually on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, 30th December 2025, after being named in the King's New Year Honours List 2026. She has been awarded an MBE for her dedicated work championing legislative changes to protect young people online.
Her campaign began after the death of her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, three years ago. Speaking to presenters Ben Thompson and Nina Warhurst, Ellen explained that she started seeking answers about her son's passing, which led her to connect with other bereaved parents facing similar struggles.
The Fight for Digital Legacy Access
Ellen's primary goal is to change the law so that parents can access the social media profiles of children who have died. She is advocating for a legal duty on tech companies to preserve this data, rather than allowing it to be deleted.
"I really want it automatic, so that when a child dies, that data is preserved," she told the BBC. "If you don't need it, they don't need it. But, if a parent does, they can hopefully not be in my position now."
She revealed the personal toll, stating she has been unable to fully mourn because the circumstances of Jools's death remain unclear. "I know how he died, but as a parent, to try to understand what on earth happened is so important," she said.
Political Hurdles and Future Hope
The campaign has faced significant challenges. Ellen described feeling she had "hit a brick wall" when an amendment she supported to the Data Use and Access Bill failed to pass in Parliament.
However, there is now hope for progress. In January 2026, the House of Lords will discuss adding a clause to the Crime and Policing Bill that would mandate the preservation of a child's digital data after their death.
"That's my ultimate goal," Ellen emphasised. "I really think it forms so much part of the evidence when a child does, potentially, that it should be there."
Visibly emotional throughout the interview, Ellen described the MBE as a "massive honour" but underscored that her motivation was never recognition. "I just couldn't stop, I've been shouting, and I guess someone has listened," she said. "It's been emotional."
