Ministers vow online safety action after 18-year-old sextortion victim took own life
The UK government has said it remains committed to making the online world as safe as possible for young people following the death of a teenager who took his own life after he fell victim to an online sextortion scam.
The UK government has said it remains committed to making the online world as safe as possible for young people following the death of a teenager who took his own life after he fell victim to an online sextortion scam.
Cai Davies, 18, died in June 2025 after he had sent messages to a woman he believed had a romantic interest in him.
South Wales Central Coroner's Court heard he had been targeted by scammers operating from Africa, who demanded money from him and said intimate photos would be sent to his friends and posted on YouTube.
The coroner addressed a Regulation 28 preventing future deaths report to the UK and Welsh government with her concerns about how Cai had fallen victim to the scam.
Murray wrote: The circumstances surrounding Cai's death are profoundly troubling and I am grateful to you for drawing these matters to my attention.
Brychan and Fychan said the Welsh government would be reviewing existing guidance as well as developing fresh online safety guidance for schools and a new national online safety programme.
Knight said it was more likely than not that personal stresses in his life together with falling victim to the sextortion scam more than minimally contributed to his death.
Online Safety Minister Ian Murray set out several recent measures the UK government had taken to protect children and young people.
Education Minister Anna Brychan and Culture Minister Heledd Fychan said: The Welsh government will continue to engage with the UK government and Ofcom on current and emerging online safety risks and their implications for devolved responsibilities.
These actions will form part of the Welsh government's wider commitment to strengthening digital resilience, preventing harm and helping people affected by online exploitation to access appropriate support.
What happened
The UK government has said it remains committed to making the online world as safe as possible for young people following the death of a teenager who took his own life after he fell victim to an online sextortion scam.
Cai Davies, 18, died in June 2025 after he had sent messages to a woman he believed had a romantic interest in him.
South Wales Central Coroner's Court heard he had been targeted by scammers operating from Africa, who demanded money from him and said intimate photos would be sent to his friends and posted on YouTube.
What changed
The coroner addressed a Regulation 28 preventing future deaths report to the UK and Welsh government with her concerns about how Cai had fallen victim to the scam.
Murray wrote: The circumstances surrounding Cai's death are profoundly troubling and I am grateful to you for drawing these matters to my attention.
Brychan and Fychan said the Welsh government would be reviewing existing guidance as well as developing fresh online safety guidance for schools and a new national online safety programme.
Who is affected
Knight said it was more likely than not that personal stresses in his life together with falling victim to the sextortion scam more than minimally contributed to his death.
Online Safety Minister Ian Murray set out several recent measures the UK government had taken to protect children and young people.
Why it matters
Education Minister Anna Brychan and Culture Minister Heledd Fychan said: The Welsh government will continue to engage with the UK government and Ofcom on current and emerging online safety risks and their implications for devolved responsibilities.
These actions will form part of the Welsh government's wider commitment to strengthening digital resilience, preventing harm and helping people affected by online exploitation to access appropriate support.
Attribution
BBC News: The UK government has said it remains committed to making the online world as safe as possible for young people following the death of a teenager who took his own life after he fell victim to an online sextortion scam.
What to watch next
Watch for additional victim details, indicators of compromise and follow-on exploitation reports.