Over recent decades, the internet has provided many positive attributes to our everyday lives, such as instant information and making it easier than ever to connect with family and friends throughout the world. However, the internet has also created some avenues for bad actors to take advantage of vulnerable people. On certain web forums, people are being encouraged to commit suicide. While these websites are protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, I believe research must be done to curtail the impact of these forums and prevent more deaths from occurring due to this harmful content.

That is why I will be reintroducing a resolution to establish a task force that will study these forums and recommend legislative and executive action to prevent people from visiting these websites. The task force will include the following members: the Attorney General, chairs of the House Judiciary, Health, and Human Services Committees, the secretaries of the Departments of Health and Human Services, psychologists, cyber bullying experts, and suicide prevention advocates.

As a legislature, we must take the time to conduct more research on these pro-suicide web forums and ensure that we make informed decisions when regulating this dangerous online content. I ask that you join me in co-sponsoring this resolution so we can limit the reach of these web forums, prevent further tragedy, and protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable people.