Esther Ghey Disappointed Prime Minister Met Tech Bosses Before Bereaved Families on Online Safety
Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna Ghey was murdered in 2023, has voiced profound disappointment that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prioritised meetings with social media giants Google, TikTok, and Meta on online safety before engaging with families who have experienced devastating consequences from these platforms.
Sir Keir’s earlier meeting with tech executives focused on urging them to “work with us to do better by British children.” However, in an open letter co-signed by 12 other bereaved families, Ms Ghey contended that it was of “equal importance” that the Prime Minister heard directly from those whose lives have been irrevocably altered.
“While we, as bereaved families, may not have the financial influence of large corporations, what we do have is an unwavering determination to ensure no child or parent has to endure the pain and suffering we experienced,” the letter stated, requesting a direct meeting to convey the urgency of government action.
A government spokeswoman acknowledged sharing Ms Ghey’s “determination to keep children safe online” and stated that the Prime Minister would continue to engage with affected families. This follows a three-month government consultation on social media restrictions for young people, which has garnered over 45,000 responses since March. The consultation explores measures from age limits and safer design to potential outright social media bans.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall had previously met with the Bereaved Parents for Online Safety group earlier in the year. The contentious issue of a social media ban for under-16s was recently rejected by MPs for a third time, highlighting the lack of consensus. This comes as a US court jury found Google and Meta intentionally designed addictive social media platforms, a verdict both companies plan to appeal.
