UK to require Apple and Google to block nude images on children’s smartphones

The UK government will begin drafting legislation requiring Apple and Google to block under-18s from creating, sending and viewing nude images on their devices. Lisa Nandy, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, announced the move after talks with the companies failed to produce a final agreement.

The proposed protections would be built into devices and switched on by default. Adults would have to verify their age before they could take, view or send nude images, while the government also wants the restrictions extended to apps used by children.

Talks ended without a final agreement

The three-month deadline for reaching a deal expired on Tuesday. Nandy told the House of Commons that an agreement remained possible, but that legislation would almost certainly be needed.

The government had previously given Apple and Google three months to activate built-in features or develop other technical solutions. Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android together dominate the smartphone operating-system market.

Privacy concerns over device scanning

The proposed system could involve client-side scanning, in which software checks content on a device before it is encrypted or sent. Lukasz Olejnik, a visiting senior research fellow in cybersecurity and privacy at King’s College London, described it as the least harmful option but warned that it would create infrastructure for scanning messages.

People familiar with the talks said both sides wanted an agreement, but significant obstacles remained, including privacy concerns. Privacy campaigners have also warned that adults would need to verify their age before disabling image-blocking features.

Self-generated abuse material

The Internet Watch Foundation said that a quarter of the child sexual abuse material images and videos it recorded last year were self-generated, amounting to more than 140,000 pieces of content over 12 months.

Jess Phillips, a former safeguarding minister, said the legislation could help prevent children from being deceived or groomed into sharing explicit images of themselves. She also urged the government to encourage other countries to adopt similar protections.

Google said it had made progress in talks and remained committed to working with lawmakers and experts while protecting privacy and access to information. Apple said it was preparing to strengthen Communication Safety, which warns children when they receive or send nude images and videos.