UK Plans Technology to Block Children From Taking and Sharing Nude Images

Social media bans for under-16s, due to come into effect in 2027, “do not go far enough,” Simmons-Reid said. The measures could be bypassed by criminals and might even deter young people from speaking up about their online behavior.

“I would like to see technology platforms invest more in detecting exploits when they occur on their platforms,” he said.

UK Legislation Would Block Nude Images on Children’s Devices

A government spokesperson said the UK is preparing legislation that would make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images on their own devices, making it the first country in the UK to do so.

“In addition to this, tech companies must also be part of the solution and fulfill their legal and moral obligations. If they do not, the government will not hesitate to intervene,” the spokesperson said.

IWF chief executive Kelly Smith said: “We welcome efforts to bring nudity-blocking technology to children’s devices, but there is no time for delay.”

Meta Details Measures to Combat Online Grooming

Meta, which operates Instagram and Facebook, said it is working to “combat and stop grooming in a variety of ways.”

“This includes limiting contact between unrelated adults and teens and using technology to locate and remove known child exploitation images,” a Meta spokesperson said.

“We also use behavioral signals to identify accounts that show signs of possible grooming or sexual interest in children.

“Based on the strength of the signal, we will either prevent them from finding and following the teen or delete their account entirely.”

Snapchat and TikTok have both been contacted by the BBC for comment.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can find information and support at the following URL: BBC Action Line.