Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb is supporting calls for the sending of flashing images and GIFs to people with epilepsy, with the intent of provoking seizures to be made illegal.

The so-called 'Zach’s Law' should be part of the new Online Harms Bill and it is named after nine-year-old Zach Eagling who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. He was sent messages that trigger seizures while completing 130 laps of his garden for charity without his walking frame in June.

The Law Commission has recommended intentionally sending the trigger images should be made illegal and put into the Online Harms Bill.

Suzanne, who is sitting on the draft Online Safety Bill Committee, met with Zach and his mom Claire Keer to discuss the new law at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester this week. She said:

“It was really important to hear Zach’s story and I was appalled that these cowardly internet trolls had done such a thing. This new bill needs to do all it can to stop this sort of hate but also keep up with how technology can be used to harm others.

“This is a clear case of that harm happening and it is time those who intentionally want to bring on a seizure for someone who is epileptic had the full force of the law directed at them.

“I support this campaign and I will feed back what I have heard to the committee and we will look closely at the Law Commission’s recommendation to see if it can work and be included in the Bill.”

During the event, Suzanne also sat on a panel to discuss the importance of the Online Safety Bill.