In June 2026, the UK government set a three-month deadline for technology companies to implement measures to prevent the taking, viewing, or sharing of images of child nudity on their devices. Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, "I expect tech firms to make that happen. But if they choose not to, then we will act and change the law." The deadline passed on September 8, 2026, and the government announced that companies like Apple and Google did not meet the requirements. Consequently, the UK government plans to introduce legislation that it claims will be the first of its kind globally.
Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, informed lawmakers that while Apple and Google had been collaborating with the government since June, their efforts were insufficient to address the crisis. The proposed legislation would impose fines and potential criminal liability on companies that fail to incorporate child protection solutions into all existing and new smartphones and tablets sold in the UK. Nandy emphasized the tech sector's ability to innovate rapidly when necessary.
Additionally, Nandy intends to explore similar legal obligations for apps used by children, such as Instagram and Snapchat. Neither Meta nor Snap provided immediate comments on the matter.
Nandy remarked, "For too long, technology companies have failed to protect children from the worst harms," and expressed skepticism about their commitment to timely progress. However, she indicated a willingness to reassess the need for legislation if platforms implement adequate solutions during the legislative process.
Chris Sherwood, CEO of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, stated, "Apple and Google needed to urgently introduce these protections to ensure online sexual abuse is disrupted and prevented on children’s devices. Now the deadline is up, government must crack down and legislate."
Some critics have raised concerns about the measures, which would not affect adults who have verified their age. In June, messaging app Signal accused the UK government of attempting to establish "invisible surveillance infrastructure" through these measures. The app warned that requiring UK residents to verify their age and have their content scanned could lead to broader surveillance issues.
Apple responded by affirming its commitment to child protection, stating, "We share the UK’s commitment to combating exploitation and abuse online and have shared with UK officials future plans to strengthen Communication Safety and other tools even further to help keep kids safe." The company highlighted its Communication Safety feature, launched in 2021, which blurs photos or videos containing nudity on a child's device.
A Google spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the progress made and reiterated the company's commitment to collaborating with experts, legislators, app developers, and device manufacturers to ensure child safety while maintaining privacy and access to information.
Globally, governments implementing stringent measures to protect children from online risks have faced backlash regarding privacy and digital rights. In the European Union, civil rights activists opposed legislation allowing tech companies to voluntarily scan users’ private messages for child sexual abuse material. Elon Musk’s X platform criticized Australia’s social media ban for potentially violating international law.
In the UK, Nandy also mentioned plans to enhance the social media ban for children under 16, which is set to take effect in spring 2027, and to strengthen laws regarding AI chatbots to protect children on those platforms.