UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged tech giants Apple and Google to stop children under 18 from taking, sharing, or viewing nude images on smartphones and tablets by introducing new technical protections. He made the appeal during a speech at London Tech Week on June 8, 2026, targeting smartphones and tablets currently in use and newly sold in the UK [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
The UK government has set a voluntary compliance deadline of three months, requiring the companies to activate or develop solutions that detect and block nude images on children’s devices by September 8, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Should Apple and Google fail to meet this deadline, the government plans to introduce legislation to enforce the measures, including potential fines and as a last resort criminal liability for tech executives [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Starmer stressed the feasibility of the task, stating, “One issue is the ability for children with phones to send and receive nude images. This is not an impossible challenge. These companies are among the most innovative globally and I believe they can solve this” [1]. UK Home Office Minister Shabana Mahmood added, “Tech companies have a moral responsibility to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images. If they don’t act, we will legislate” [1].
Adults will still be able to take, share, or view nude images after passing an age verification process, the government said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Apple and Google already have some features in place, including warnings and blocking for children using built-in services such as iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime, and Google Messages, along with some third-party AI tools [1, 6].
The government argues that blocking nude images is crucial to disrupting grooming and sextortion of children. In 2024, 91% of reported child sexual abuse images involved self-generated content by children, who on average encountered pornography by age 13 [1, 6]. Starmer said, “We will change the law … when it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option” [2].
The UK is also considering limiting social media use for under-16s through platform bans and restrictions on addictive features, though plans remain uncertain [1, 3, 4, 6].
Privacy and digital rights groups expressed concern over the proposals. Silkie Carlo of Big Brother Watch warned, “The Labour government is threatening to implement identity verification systems on the internet. In a democracy no one should be forced to show passport to go online” [6]. However, child protection charities like NSPCC backed the government’s approach. NSPCC CEO Chris Sherwood said, “Large tech companies must take responsibility now. The government must focus on holding companies to account to ensure this crucial reform for young people’s safety is quickly implemented” [6]. Some experts called for more evidence-based policy and cautioned against rushed legislation [1, 6].
Google said it was “working constructively with UK partners to find effective, privacy-preserving solutions that deter the spread of harmful content while ensuring a safe digital environment for young people” [3].
The three-month voluntary period for compliance begins now, with legislation proposed if Apple, Google, and other tech firms fail to implement the protections by September 8, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
