UK Government Cracks Down on Tech Giants Over Child Nudity Protection

The UK government has set a deadline for Apple and Google to implement child protection measures on their devices, but both companies have missed it. The deadline was June's three-month notice, given by then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who warned that the tech giants would face legislation if they failed to act.

The UK government claims that Apple and Google have not done enough to prevent child nudity on their devices, and is now pushing for new laws to fine companies and hold executives liable for non-compliance. The proposed legislation will require all existing and newly sold smartphones and tablets in the UK to include built-in child protection solutions.

The government also plans to explore extending these requirements to apps used by children, such as Instagram and Snapchat. Chris Sherwood, CEO of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, says that Apple and Google needed to urgently introduce these protections to ensure online sexual abuse is disrupted and prevented on children's devices.

However, not everyone agrees with the measures. Messaging app Signal has warned that forcing UK residents to prove their age and have their content scanned in the name of child safety could be a slippery slope into wider surveillance. Apple says it is working with the UK government to protect kids, but Google's spokesperson only mentions progress made so far.

The new laws are part of a broader effort by the UK government to regulate social media and online harm. The government is considering extending its sweeping social media ban for children under 16, announced earlier this year, which remains on track to go into effect in spring 2027.