Stop children taking and sharing nude photos, UK Prime Minister tells tech companies

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday asked technology companies operating in the United Kingdom to prevent children from taking, sending and receiving nude photos. If they fail to do so, the UK will change the law, he added.

“I call on technology companies operating in this country to introduce controls on devices that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images,” Starmer said in a speech at London Tech Week. “This is not an impossible challenge. These are some of the most innovative companies in the world and I believe they can solve the problem, but if they choose not to, we will take action.”

The British government is asking technology companies, including Apple and Google, to put in place device-level controls to prevent nude images of children within the next three months. She wants the technology to be available across new and existing phones.

A Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement: “Google is deeply committed to protecting children online. We are working constructively with UK partners to find effective privacy-preserving solutions that prevent the spread of harmful content while ensuring a safe digital environment for young people.”

An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Starmer is too Study new rules It would ban social media for children under 16, similar to… The ban is already in place in AustraliaAccording to The times.

Many children, especially teenagers, Capture, share and receive nude photos Without their parents knowing. This behavior is illegal and also puts children at risk of blackmail, bullying, sexual harassment or child exploitation. The UK is the first country to call on technology companies to help keep children safe by preventing them from taking nude photos and posting them online.

in statement In support of Starmer’s announcement on device control, the UK’s National Crime Agency said the restrictions have the potential to stop some of the most dangerous forms of online child sexual abuse before it starts.

“Many of the most serious cases begin with child offenders forcing them to create and share sexual images of themselves,” said Graeme Biggar, director general of the National Crime Agency. “Once these images exist, they can be used for blackmail, humiliation and repeated exploitation. Preventing children from taking, sharing or receiving nude images could stop abuse before it starts and would therefore be an important step forward.”

But not everyone welcomed Starmer’s comments. Silke Carlo, director of rights group Big Brother Watch, said: “Protecting children online is vital, but these are outrageous plans that will fail to address the underlying causes of online harm.” In a statement. “This will only result in population-wide ID checks for all of us to use our phones, tablets and laptops.”

Starmer’s order is not designed to prevent adults from capturing and sending nudes. But as with UK online safety lawwhich requires many corners of the internet, including Reddit, to verify the ages of people accessing their services, could quite possibly lead to people having to prove their identity in order to use a device without a child lock.