The British government has set a three-month deadline for major technology firms to introduce safeguards preventing children from taking, sending, or viewing nude images on smartphones. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the plan Monday at London Tech Week, urging companies to take greater responsibility for child safety online.

Starmer said: “I call on tech companies operating in this country to introduce controls on devices that stop children from sending and receiving explicit sexual images.” He added that tackling this challenge “is not impossible.”

Under the new proposals, companies such as Apple and Google will be required to develop or activate technologies capable of detecting nudity and blocking it for underage users. Adults would still be able to access such content after age verification. The Home Office warned that firms could face fines or even criminal prosecution of executives if they fail to deliver effective solutions.

The government argues this would make the UK the first country to ban children from producing or sharing nude images via mobile phones. The plan is based on data from the Internet Watch Foundation, which reported that 91% of child sexual abuse cases online in 2024 involved content created by children themselves.
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Apple has not commented, though it recently introduced age verification systems and warning tools in the UK to flag nudity in messages. However, the government says these measures remain insufficient, as they do not cover phone cameras, third-party messaging apps, or search tools.

The announcement comes as Britain considers further restrictions on children’s social media use. In January, the government launched consultations on banning certain platforms for under-16s, following Australia’s model. Reports suggest Starmer will unveil additional measures soon to limit teenage access to social media as part of a broader campaign to enhance online child safety.