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UK to mandate device-level protections to block nude images for minors
The United Kingdom government is preparing legislation to mandate device-level safeguards that prevent minors from taking, viewing, or sharing nude images on smartphones and tablets. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced that the proposal will be brought to Parliament following a three-month voluntary period in which tech giants Apple and Google failed to implement sufficient protections.
The proposed regulatory framework aims to ensure that nudity detection filters are activated by default on devices used by individuals under 18. To access or transmit restricted visual material, adults will be required to pass robust age-assurance verification processes. The legislation also intends to extend these requirements to third-party applications to ensure a comprehensive ecosystem of protection.
Government officials noted that while Apple and Google have made meaningful changes, such as Apple’s Communication Safety feature launched in 2021, these measures do not address the scale of the crisis. The Internet Watch Foundation reported identifying 140,000 pieces of self-generated child sexual abuse imagery last year. Under the new law, companies that fail to comply could face significant fines and potential criminal liability for executives.
Entities
Alphabet Inc. · Andy Burnham · Apple · Apple Inc. · Google · Lisa Nandy · National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children · UK Government · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] Existing voluntary measures from Apple and Google are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. www.ziarulnational.md · phone.cnmo.com · www.bbc.co.uk · www.wired.com · dominicanaaldia.com · +7 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Apple launched a Communication Safety feature in 2021 to help prevent children from seeing or sharing nude imagery. www.ziarulnational.md · phone.cnmo.com · www.ithome.com · www.bbc.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Internet Watch Foundation identified 140,000 pieces of self-generated child sexual abuse imagery last year. www.ibtimes.co.uk
- [● 4 SOURCES] Proposed protections would be enabled by default on devices used by minors. www.theguardian.com · dominicanaaldia.com · world-today-journal.com · www.mesazhi.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The government may reconsider the need for legislation if tech companies implement effective solutions before the bill is passed. dominicanaaldia.com · www.ziarulnational.md · www.ithome.com · www.wired.com · www.mesazhi.com · +1 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The proposed law would mandate device-level protections for smartphones and tablets in the UK. macdailynews.com · dominicanaaldia.com · world-today-journal.com · www.mesazhi.com · www.wired.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Companies that fail to implement required protections could face fines and criminal liability for executives. www.wired.com
- [● 13 SOURCES] The UK government intends to introduce legislation to prevent minors from taking, sharing, or viewing nude images on mobile devices. dominicanaaldia.com · www.ziarulnational.md · phone.cnmo.com · macdailynews.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk · +7 more