Hansard

The Scottish and United Kingdom Parliaments are currently scrutinising assisted dying bills. Although we may be doing so on slightly different timelines, the reality is that the debates are very similar and the nature of the amendments that are being considered are largely in the same territory of enhancing safeguards.

Wherever we stand in the debate, it is acknowledged that both bills, if successful, will have a profound impact on people across the UK, so it is right that the two Parliaments should work closely together. That is particularly the case when it comes to advertising and media, because online activity travels much more easily across borders than, for example, a poster on a wall.

In the recent House of Lords debate that considered the issue, it was noted that those with chronic illnesses have reported noticing Facebook adverts that include negative content about their treatment, about whether they can live with their condition and even content that suggests going to Switzerland for assisted dying. If Facebook algorithms are opaque, artificial intelligence is even worse. The House of Lords debate also referenced the current lawsuit against OpenAI from the family of a young man who allege that ChatGPT encouraged him to take his life.

Once again, the bill is a reminder of the work that the Governments must do to ensure that there are appropriate safeguards in place. Combating advertising that targets vulnerable and suicidal people is an issue that the Governments should be working closely together on, regardless of the outcome of the bills. We, on the Labour benches, support the legislative consent motion.