The UK government has announced plans to introduce new legislation compelling technology companies to prevent children from taking or sharing nude images on mobile devices. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy informed Parliament that while Apple and Google have made progress, their current proposals are insufficient to address the scale of the issue.
In June, the government gave the two companies three months to implement solutions to block access to explicit imagery for users under 18. While Nandy acknowledged that both firms have made "meaningful changes" to their operating systems, she stated that the government will move to legislate "as soon as they can" unless more effective measures are adopted by the companies beforehand. The proposed law would extend beyond operating systems to include app providers, aiming to secure the entire digital ecosystem.
Representatives for Apple and Google emphasized their ongoing efforts to protect children. Apple noted that its "Communication Safety" feature, launched in 2021, continues to be expanded, while Google stated it remains an "industry leader" in combating non-consensual intimate imagery.
The move has been supported by child safety advocates, including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation, who argue that such measures are vital to preventing grooming and sextortion. However, the proposal has raised concerns regarding privacy. The Open Rights Group has previously warned that such restrictions could necessitate universal age verification, potentially subjecting all users to digital ID checks and default scanning of private images. The government has rejected claims that the policy constitutes surveillance.
Source: BBC News
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