It could soon be an offence to electronically send or show flashing images to someone with epilepsy with the intention of causing them harm.
Yesterday, December 6, the new clause 53, dubbed Zach’s Law, passed through the House of Commons.
It will be included in the Online Safety Bill, which, if it receives Parliamentary Approval, will be made into law early next year.
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If the law comes into place anyone found to break it can be imprisoned for up to five years, fined, or both, in England and Wales.
Watford MP Dean Russell backed the proposed change after hearing about the 11-year-old’s plight.
Zach Eagling, who lives in West Yorkshire and has epilepsy and cerebral palsy, was the target of an online attack.
His mother, Claire Keer, posted Zach’s achievements of completing 130 laps of their garden unaided in his efforts to raise donations for the Epilepsy Society.
Later, hundreds of flashing images were sent to Claire’s account with the intention of causing Zach a seizure.
It was not only Zach who received the messages, but the Epilepsy Society too.
Mr Russell said: 'I would like to pay tribute to Zach, his family and the Epilepsy Society for working so hard to ensure that this vote happened.
“I am proud to have worked with Suzanne Webb MP and the family from the start to ensure that this important amendment was included in the Online Safety Bill.
“This will now give vital protection to those with epilepsy and will send out a powerful signal that abuse of this kind will not be tolerated. Perpetrators can now be brought to justice.'
The amendment will make it a criminal offence to deliberately send or show flashing imagery to someone they know, or reasonably suspect, to have epilepsy with the intention of causing harm.
With oversight from the online regulator, Ofcom, social media companies will now legally be required to crackdown on perpetrators and ensure protection for young and vulnerable users.
The Epilepsy Society’s head of external affairs Nicola Swanborough said: "Dean's valuable support means that thousands of people with epilepsy will soon be free from the fear of being cruelly bullied online."
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