The UK Government is preparing new legislation to mandate that tech companies make it impossible for anyone under the age of 18 to take, view, or send nude images. These measures aim to establish the UK as a global leader in online safety, with what the government states will be the world's strongest online child safety laws.
Since 8 June, the Government has engaged in negotiations with Apple and Google regarding commitments to prevent children from sending, taking, or viewing nude images on their devices. While progress has been made, it has not met the full scope of the government's ambition.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the protection will be built into devices and switched on by default, requiring companies to verify a user's adult status. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, emphasised that the government will not hesitate to change the law if companies do not implement sufficient solutions.
The Internet Watch Foundation reported that more child sexual extortion-related reports were recorded in the first six months of this year than in the entirety of 2025. In 2024, the charity noted that 91% of online child sexual abuse reports included self-generated content from children.