Jay Slater’s mother calls for huge change amid online abuse

21 Nov 2025 • 7:18 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Debbie Duncan, mother of the late Jay Slater, is campaigning for new legislation called "Jay's Law" to tackle online trolls.
  • Her son, Jay Slater, died in Tenerife in June 2024 after going missing, which led to widespread conspiracy theories and online abuse targeting his family.
  • An inquest concluded that Jay Slater's death was accidental, resulting from head injuries after he lost his footing and fell into a ravine.
  • Ms Duncan has launched an official Parliamentary petition for "Jay's Law" with the support of her local Labour MP, Sarah Smith.
  • The campaign seeks to better regulate social media and prevent grieving families from being subjected to abuse and misinformation, a problem also highlighted in a Channel 4 documentary on "tragedy trolling".

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