The UK government will legislate to force Apple and Google to block nude images on children’s phones and tablets. The law would stop children taking, sharing or viewing them. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, told the House of Commons on 8 September that voluntary talks with the two companies had not gone far enough.
In a statement to Parliament, Nandy committed the government to primary legislation. It would require major tech platforms to build protections for children into their devices. She said it would come “as soon as we can”, but gave no date.
Between them, Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android run most of the UK’s smartphones. Neither currently blocks the taking or sending of nude images across the whole device, Bloomberg’s Jacob Reid reported.
A deadline that ran out
The move follows a three-month deadline the government set in June. At the time, it told Apple and Google to switch on built-in features or other technical fixes to detect and block nude images for children. Its June announcement warned that legislation would follow if they did not. That would include fines. As a last resort, the government said it would explore criminal liability for tech bosses.
