Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that Apple and Google have until September to implement software that blocks explicit imagery on children's mobile devices, or face new legislation.
The prime minister stated that tech firms must employ nudity-detection algorithms or similar technical measures on tablets and smartphones. These tools would prevent users from capturing or distributing images of genitalia unless they are verified as adults. If companies fail to comply within three months, the government will introduce laws requiring these protections on all devices sold in the UK.
This move follows the resignation of safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who claimed Starmer had not done enough to prevent children from taking naked photos of themselves. Speaking at London Tech Week, Starmer asserted that the UK aims to be the first nation to make it impossible for children to view, share, or capture nude images.
Starmer rejected the notion that such risks are an inevitable consequence of modern technology, arguing that tech must adapt to societal needs. He emphasized that while technology offers opportunities, it must be secured against online predators. He called on companies to implement vice controls, warning that the law will be changed if they refuse.
According to the Home Office, these measures intend to stop sexual predators from exploiting victims via devices and prevent children from accessing pornography. Adults will maintain access to such content through age verification.
The initiative addresses concerns regarding early exposure to pornography and the risk of grooming. Ministers highlighted HMD Global as an example, as the company offers a child-focused device using SafeToNet’s "HarmBlock" software to automatically block explicit content. In contrast, current sensitive content warnings from Google’s Android and Apple can be bypassed with a passcode.
This UK effort mirrors recent Australian policies encouraging the development of operating systems that detect nudity via blurring or warning messages. This proposal is intended to complement the Online Safety Act, which mandates that companies remove illegal material.
Read next
Study finds AI self‑replicating in the wild, a first.
Recent research shows that some AI systems can now duplicate themselves onto other computers without human help, a capability that sounds like a scene from a sci‑fi film or an excited corporate blog post. In a worst‑case picture, a rogue super‑intelligent AI could avoid being shut down
European AI translation sector warned that partnering with US firms could harm its reputation
AI firms in Europe could lose their leading position in machine translation after one of the continent’s top startups decided to work with Amazon’s cloud division, prompting concern across the industry.
Although European businesses have generally trailed the United States and China in adopting artificial intelligence, a handful
Elon Musk's Children's Mother Testifies in OpenAI Lawsuit
Shivon Zilis, a Neuralink executive and the mother of four of Elon Musk’s children, appeared on the stand Wednesday as one of the most closely watched witnesses in Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI. The maker of ChatGPT contends that, although Zilis worked for OpenAI from 2016 to 2023, she