Government to force Apple and Google to block nude images after deadline missed
The government will introduce laws to require Apple and Google to build device-level protections stopping children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images, after a three-month deadline passed.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The government has said it will introduce new laws to force Apple and Google to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images on their devices. The move comes after a three-month deadline set by the previous prime minister, Keir Starmer, expired without the tech companies meeting the demands.
Digital Secretary Lisa Nandy told MPs on Tuesday that although the companies had made some progress, they were not meeting the scale of the crisis. She said the government would now bring forward primary legislation to require major tech platforms to build in device-level protections for children. The laws would also require apps used by children to prevent them from accessing or sharing nudity as soon as possible.
Nandy said she was not prepared to give the companies the benefit of the doubt while harm was being done now. She said: "In no other walk of life would we tolerate this crisis, harming our children. We will not tolerate it online. For too long, technology companies have failed to protect children from some of the worst harms."
The government has said it will drop the proposed laws if the companies start making the necessary changes in the meantime. Apple and Google, which run the software on almost every smartphone in the UK, have argued that the changes are not as simple as flicking a switch. Google said it had been an industry leader in advancing child safety, while Apple said it had introduced groundbreaking safety features. Both companies said they were committed to continuing to work with the government on the issue.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| The government will legally require Apple and Google to make it impossible for children to take, share, or view nude images. | ||
| Apple and Google argue that the required changes are not as simple as the government believes. | · | |
| Apple and Google missed an ultimatum to detect and block nude images. | · | |
| Digital Secretary Lisa Nandy said tech companies have failed to protect children from online harm. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 gave detailed political coverage, focusing on the missed deadline, Lisa Nandy's criticism of the tech companies, and the government's plan to introduce laws. It also highlighted the previous prime minister's involvement and the conditional nature of the legislation, noting that the government would drop the laws if companies made progress. The tone was factual but emphasised the government's determination.
- “In no other walk of life would we tolerate this crisis, harming our children. We will not tolerate it online.”
- “For too long, technology companies have failed to protect children from some of the worst harms, and to be frank, I am not prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt that progress will continue at the pace that we need it to while harm is being done now.”
- “These tech companies essentially argue, look, it's not quite as simple as the government believes it is. It's not like flicking on a switch.”
Sky News reported the announcement more briefly, focusing on the government's commitment to introduce primary legislation and the requirement for device-level protections. It also mentioned the need for apps to prevent access to nudity. The coverage did not include the tech companies' response or the missed deadline context, instead presenting the government's statement as a fresh commitment.
- “First the government is today committing to introducing primary legislation To require major tech platforms to build in device level protections for children”
- “This will be introduced to Parliament as soon as we can Recognizing the urgency of this issue alongside these measures on devices.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.