Sir Keir Starmer has given major technology companies until September to introduce protections that prevent children from taking, sharing or viewing explicit images on mobile devices, warning that the government will legislate if firms fail to act.

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The prime minister said companies including Apple and Google should deploy nudity-detection technology or other safeguards on smartphones and tablets to block the creation and sharing of sexually explicit images by users who have not been verified as adults.

Speaking at London Tech Week on Monday, Starmer said the UK could become the first country to make it impossible for children to access, send or receive nude images on their devices.

Protecting Children Online

Starmer rejected the idea that children’s exposure to explicit content was an unavoidable consequence of modern technology. He said technology companies must adapt their products to meet society’s needs and help protect children from online predators.

He called on technology firms operating in Britain to introduce controls that prevent minors from sending and receiving sexually explicit images. If companies do not implement suitable measures within three months, the government will introduce legislation requiring such protections on all phones and tablets sold in the UK.

Under the proposal, adults would still be able to access, create and share nude content after completing an age-verification process.

Pressure for Stronger Safeguards

The announcement follows the resignation of safeguarding minister Jess Phillips in May. Phillips said she had spent more than a year pushing for measures to stop children from taking nude images of themselves and criticised the pace of government action.

In her resignation letter, she argued that practical solutions had already been developed and that ministers had been reluctant to move beyond threatening legislation.

The Home Office said the proposed measures would help prevent sexual predators from exploiting victims through digital devices while also limiting children's access to pornography.

Current Technology and Industry Response

Ministers highlighted existing technology such as HarmBlock, software developed by UK-based SafeToNet and incorporated into devices produced by HMD Global. The software automatically detects and blocks explicit imagery.

Apple and Google have introduced features that warn younger users about sensitive content, but these protections can currently be bypassed using a passcode.

Neither company currently offers a system that blocks explicit content across an entire operating system, including third-party applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

International Context

The UK initiative follows similar moves in Australia, where authorities have encouraged technology companies to develop operating systems capable of detecting nudity and applying measures such as image blurring or warning messages.

The proposed changes would complement the UK's Online Safety Act, which already requires online platforms to remove content deemed illegal or harmful to children.

Broader discussions are also under way about introducing tougher age-verification requirements and restrictions on features considered addictive, as part of wider efforts to improve child safety online.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 8 June 2026

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By September? The kids already know three workarounds and haven’t even read the article yet.

Edited 59 minutes ago59 min by Nemises