UK Forces Tech Firms to Block Nude Images on Children's Devices

UK government gives tech giants including Apple and Google three months to implement blocking technology for nude images on children's devices, or face legislation. 'This is not an impossible challenge,' PM Keir Starmer declared, emphasizing that when it comes to child safety, 'standing by is not an option.'

The Labour government cites 91% of online child sexual abuse reports in 2024 contained self-generated content from children, stating tech companies have 'moral responsibility' to protect from coercion, abuse and sextortion. Future legislation would include fines for non-compliance and possible criminal liability for tech executives.

Apple recently implemented age verification for UK users but nudity detection doesn't apply to camera, third-party apps like Snapchat, or search functions. Australia already banned under-16s from social media in December, with UK expected to announce similar restrictions on some platforms soon. This global regulatory trend could reshape how tech companies design products worldwide.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/08/uk-govt-warns-big-tech-over-nude-images-sent-by-children/