UK gives big tech 3 months to create device controls to block nude images of kids

The United Kingdom is giving Apple, Google and other big tech companies three months to create safeguards on smartphones and tablets that find and block nude images of children in an effort to disrupt the trafficking of the imagery.

The companies “must activate built-in features or implement technical solutions on smartphones and tablets to detect and block nude images for children,” according to a press release from the Home Office. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the measure in a speech at London Tech Week Monday.

The rules will apply to both existing and new smartphones and tablets, the press release said. If the tech firms fail to comply with the order, the government will introduce legislation to “force” them to act, the press release said. 

Fines and potential criminal liability for tech executives are being considered, the press release said. “Nothing is off the table,” according to the press release.

In addition to protecting kids from online pornography and reducing the number of images in circulation, the initiative is designed to keep predators from exploiting and abusing children via their devices.

Adults will need to use age verification in order to access nude content of all types, the press release said.

“There is no data collection, no monitoring and no reporting,” the Home Office said in a social media post. “The device will simply block harmful content across all apps and services.”

“This will make Britain the first country in the world where it is impossible for children to take, share or view naked pictures on their devices.”

More than 90% of child sex abuse reports made in 2024 featured content children generated themselves, the press release said, noting that several children who have shared images with predators have ultimately killed themselves.

Apple has already taken action by introducing default age checks for iPhone users, but nudity detection is not applied to third-party messaging services, cameras, apps or search, the press release said.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government wants tech giants to “block nudity across the whole device by default, so they can only be deactivated via age assurance,” according to the press release.

Britain’s National Crime Agency hailed the move, saying device controls could drastically reduce the victimization of children online.

“We have been clear that online platforms currently contain features that offenders exploit to groom, coerce and sexually exploit children at scale,” the agency said in a press release. “Restricting access to those high‑risk features remains an important part of reducing harm.”

The announcement comes as the UK mulls sweeping social media restrictions also designed to protect children online.

The government will soon be unveiling new measures to hold social media platforms to account for child safety and protecting kids from online harms, the press release said. In March, the government launched pilot programs to test different methods for reigning in social media platforms and how children interact with them.

Two UK regulators are currently investigating xAI for nudified images the chatbot shared of women and children beginning in December.