Google denies breaching law by promoting suicide forum linked to 164 UK deaths

US-based site, whose operators were fined 950,000 by Ofcom, appears in Google's search results and can be accessed in UK

Google has denied breaching the Online Safety Act by promoting a nihilistic" suicide forum associated with 164 deaths in the UK, where it is supposed to be banned.

The UK's internet regulator fined the forum's US-based operator 950,000 because the site, which presents a material risk of significant harm", can still be accessed in the UK despite British laws criminalising encouraging or assisting suicide.

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org