20 September 2023 , 12:13
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A 12-year-old with epilepsy has won a change in the law after heartless trolls sent him flashing messages designed to trigger his seizures.
Zach Eagling, who also lives with cerebral palsy, was bombarded on a support group's social media page with the bright images, which can cause long-term harm to individuals with his conditions. His mother, Claire Keer, tirelessly campaigned alongside her son for the introduction of "Zach's Law" into the Online Safety Bill, which was ratified in the House of Lords on Tuesday.
The new legislation aims to hold social media companies more accountable for user safety, forcing them to remove illegal content and shield children from harmful material. Claire, from Liversedge, West Yorkshire, has spoken of her pride in Zach's achievements, and said: "I say it all the time, but I'm so proud of Zach and his achievements. When we started our campaign, I'm not sure that either of us thought it would go this far. So to know Zach's Law is now an actual law is amazing."
Zach Eagling, who also lives with cerebral palsy, was bombarded on a support group's social media page with flashing images (Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
Mum Claire says she is 'so proud of Zach and his achievements' (Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)Zach's parents discovered he had cerebral palsy at the age of three, following a brain injury at birth, which has impacted both his mobility and cognitive development. Claire later secured a settlement after a medical negligence claim, ensuring Zach will have access to specialist treatment and therapies for life.
Zach became the target of internet trolls when he participated in a garden lap-walking challenge during lockdown to raise funds for the Epilepsy Society. He managed to complete an impressive 2.6km unaided in the summer of 2020, raising a whopping £20,000 for the charity.
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However, the Epilepsy Society's social media pages were maliciously targeted with flashing images, leading to numerous followers reporting seizures. Despite the harm caused, no action could be taken as the culprits weren't technically breaking any laws.
But thanks to what is now known as 'Zach's Law', such offences can lead to a five-year prison sentence. Claire, expressing her relief, said: "Zach was deeply upset at the online trolling and was determined to make it stop. He's done that now and he's over the moon about it. All Zach ever wants to do is help people, and that's such a wonderful trait to have."
Zach Eagling, then aged 10, with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)She added: "We're also both very grateful for all the support we've had pushing through Zach's Law. It's been a long process and a lot of work and effort, but it's been worth it."
Claire and Zach began their campaign to strengthen legislation around online bullying and trolling, receiving support from law firm Irwin Mitchell, who had previously secured Zach his settlement. Rachelle Mahapatra from the firm said: "Zach is an incredible young man and he continues to astound me time and time again. He has shown such courage and determination over the years and I had no doubt that Zach's Law would be passed.
"Zach should be immensely proud of what he's achieved. Bullying in any form is unacceptable and I'm pleased that the online measures are being tightened. Everyone, particularly people with disabilities who are some of the most vulnerable in society, should be treated respectfully and feel safe when using the internet. Zach's Law is a major step towards that."
Clare Pelham, chief executive at the Epilepsy Society, recalled the distressing incident when the society's Twitter account was bombarded with flashing images and GIFs designed to trigger seizures, leaving them feeling helpless. "The trolls were operating beyond the reach of the law because the law, written in the time of typewriters and printer's ink, had not kept pace with the digital world," she said. Ms Pelham praised Zach and Claire for their relentless efforts in championing the campaign and described him as "superstar."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]