Technology companies have been given an ultimatum to stop children sending and receiving explicit images on their devices or face a change to the law, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
In a speech at London Tech Week, the Prime Minister said: “One issue is the ability for children with phones to send and receive nude images.
“For too long, people have been told that is simply the price of modern tech, that nothing can be done, that Government is powerless, that parents just have to accept it.
“I reject that completely, because tech should adapt to the needs of society, not the other way around.”
He added: “That is why today I am calling on tech companies operating in this country to introduce device controls that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images.
“Because this is not an impossible challenge. These are some of the most innovative companies in the world and I believe they can solve it.
“But if they choose not to, then we will act and we will change the law because when it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option.”
Labour MP Jess Phillips resigned as safeguarding minister at the Home Office earlier this year, accusing Sir Keir of being slow to threaten legislation on preventing children taking naked images of themselves, despite the technology being available.
In her letter, she said: “We could make this possible on every phone and device in the country. We could stop this abuse.
“It has taken me a year to get you to agree to even threaten to legislate in this space. Not legislate, just threaten.
“This is the definition of incremental change. Nothing bold about it. The announcement was meant to be in March, I’m still on a promise this will happen in June, I’ve given up believing it.”
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