British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called on tech firms operating in the United Kingdom to stop children from taking, sending and receiving sexually explicit pictures. He warned that if companies do not act, the government will amend legislation.
«I am urging tech companies in this country to roll out device‑level controls that stop children from sending and receiving erotic images,» Starmer said during a speech at London Tech Week. «This is not an impossible task. These are among the world’s most innovative firms and I trust they can deliver a solution, but if they refuse, we will intervene.»
The government is requesting that firms such as Apple and Google implement device‑wide safeguards within the next three months to block nude images of minors, covering both new and existing devices.
«Google is deeply committed to protecting children online. We are working constructively with UK partners to find effective, privacy‑preserving solutions that deter the spread of harmful content while ensuring a safe digital environment for young people,» a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Starmer is also considering new regulations that would prohibit social‑media use by children under 16, mirroring a ban already in place in Australia, according to the Times.
Many youngsters, particularly teenagers, capture, share and receive naked photos without parental knowledge. This conduct is illegal and exposes children to blackmail, bullying, sexual harassment, and exploitation. The UK would become the first nation to require tech firms to help keep children safe by preventing the creation and circulation of nude images online.
In a statement endorsing Starmer’s device‑control proposal, the UK National Crime Agency said the measures could stop some of the gravest forms of online child sexual abuse before they begin.
«Many of the most serious cases start with offenders coercing children into making and sharing sexual images of themselves,» said Graeme Biggar, NCA director general. «Once those images exist, they can be used for blackmail, humiliation and repeated exploitation. Preventing children from taking, sharing or receiving nude images can stop abuse before it starts and would be a significant step forward.»
However, the proposal faced criticism. «Protecting children online is vital, but these outrageous plans will not address the root causes of online harm,» said Silkie Carlo, director of the rights group Big Brother Watch. «It will simply lead to population‑wide ID checks for everyone using phones, tablets and laptops.»
Starmer’s request is not aimed at stopping adults from creating or sending nudes. Yet, as with the UK’s Online Safety Act— which forces platforms like Reddit to verify users’ ages— it could end up requiring identity verification to operate a device without a child‑lock.