Starmer orders tech firms to block kids sending and receiving explicit pictures

Sir Keir Starmer has ordered tech companies to bring in measures that will prevent children sending and receiving sexually explicit pictures on their devices.

The Prime Minister said if firms refuse to introduce the controls, his government would change the law to make it a requirement.

His announcement comes as speculation grows over the potential introduction of a ban on social media for British under-16s.

In a speech at London Tech Week, Starmer 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 could be done, that government is powerless. That parents just have to accept it.

‘But I reject that completely, because tech should adapt to the needs of society, not the other way around.’

He said the introduction of such controls is ‘not an impossible challenge’, adding: ‘These are some of the most innovative companies in the world, and I believe they can solve it.’

The Home Office said the move will mean the UK becomes the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images.

Adults will need to go through an ‘age verification process’ before they are able to do so.

Last month, Labour MP Jess Phillips resigned as Minister for Safeguarding and criticised Starmer’s approach to the issue of self-generated explicit images in a letter to the PM.

She wrote: ‘The technology exists to stop children being able to take naked images of themselves. 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.’

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