Jools' Law
Jools’ Law is a UK campaign led by Ellen Roome MBE, calling for the automatic preservation of a child’s online and social media data within five days of death.
Without preserved digital evidence, harm to children cannot be properly examined, and social media companies cannot be held to account.
Jools’ Law: Protecting Children’s Digital Evidence After Death
A UK campaign led by Ellen Roome MBE, calling for the automatic preservation of a child’s online and social media data when a child dies.
When a child dies, their digital life can hold vital evidence about what happened. Messages, videos, search history, online interactions, and algorithmic exposure can disappear within hours or days. Currently, there is no automated process to preserve this data.
Jools’ Law was founded following the death of Ellen's 14-year-old son, Jools, after critical questions about his online activity could not be answered because digital evidence was not looked at.
The problem today
• Children’s digital data is not automatically preserved after death
• Families often do not know what to ask for or when, and are often not in a fit state to think of this.
• Police and coroners can miss crucial digital evidence
• Platforms may delete or overwrite data before it is secured
What is Jools’ Law?
Jools’ Law calls for:
• Automatic preservation of a child’s online and social media data within five days of a child’s death
• A clear, standardised process so digital evidence is not missed
• Early protection of data to support investigations and inquests
Why this matters
Children’s digital lives are deeply embedded in their real lives. Online data can help confirm or rule out coercion, exploitation, grooming, sextortion, or exposure to harmful content.
No parent should have to fight for answers about their child’s final moments online.
No child’s death should go unexplained because digital evidence was lost before anyone acted.
In one sentence
Jools’ Law ensures a child’s digital evidence is protected immediately, not after it is too late.
