Trending 
The British government has asked tech companies, including Apple and Google, to block access to naked images on smartphones and other devices for under-18s, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday.
Starmer told firms to either activate built-in features or update operating systems to prevent children from taking, sending or viewing sexually explicit images on their phones and other devices.
Speaking at London Tech Week, the prime minister said the challenge was not impossible.
“This is not an impossible challenge. These are some of the most innovative companies in the world and I believe they can solve it,” he said.
The government said it will introduce legislation to require firms to activate the features if they do not do so voluntarily within three months.
Penalties could include fines or, as a last resort, criminal liability for companies which do not comply.
Starmer said the changes would apply to both existing and newly-sold smartphones and tablets in the UK.
“Legislation could cover operating system providers and others in the supply chain, such as retailers, and will not affect the use of devices owned and used by adults who verify their age,” he said.
A Google spokesperson said the company was “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,” the spokesperson said.
Apple has already age-verified its UK users and offers a blocking service on its own platforms, including iMessage.
The UK has already introduced laws to protect children online, including the Online Safety Act, which is implemented and enforced by media regulator Ofcom.
But in light of worries about online grooming and sextortion, child safety advocates have called on the government to take more action to prevent kids from viewing or sharing nude photos.
The government said 91 percent of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 contained self-generated content from children themselves.
The average child now views pornography by the age of 13, according to government figures.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said tech companies “have a moral duty to act by making it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images.”
“If they don’t, we will legislate,” she added.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Companies should switch these protections on by default, for every child, on every device. We are giving them three months to show us that they will do the right thing.”
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, welcomed what he called “an important step forward for child protection.”
However, he criticised government communication around the announcement.
“Number 10 needs to start urgently listening to experts and the evidence, rather than rush out hurried announcements for short-term expediency that will quickly unravel and continue to let tech firms off the hook for preventable harm,” he said.
