Google and Apple must ban nude images on children's phones - or face new UK laws
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer talks exclusively to The Female Lead
When The Female Lead interviewed the Prime Minister in February about the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls strategy we promised to hold him to account.
Just four months later, we were invited to speak to Sir Keir Starmer again about the government’s goal for Britain to become first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images.
The statistics for for online abuse and pornography viewed by children are shocking:
91% of online child sexual abuse reports recorded in 2024 contained self-generated content from children themselves and the average child now views pornography by age 13.
39% of teenagers aged 13–17 experience emotional or physical abuse from a partner.
52% of all child sexual abuse and exploitation cases involve children aged 10–17 offending against other children.
Progress to tackle online child sexual exploitation has been slow - something Jess Phillips acknowledged when she resigned as Safeguarding Minister in May 2026 to protest the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Now the Prime Minister has announced Big Tech firms like Apple and Google must introduce safety measures on children’s smartphones and tablets to detect and block nude images for children - with the government prepared to legislate if they do not act.
If companies do not act within three months, the Prime Minister has said legislation will be brought in to force them to activate the technology. This will include fines for companies with criminal liability for tech bosses who fail to comply also a possibility.
Speaking exclusively to us at London Tech Week - albeit it for just five minutes to tackle such a crucial safeguarding issue - Sir Keir Starmer spoke about the responsibility of Big Tech to protect children and changing the law to enforce it if they don’t act swiftly - and we told him The Female Lead community is frustrated at the lack of action, demanding more be done to protect women and girls in Britain.
On Jess Phillips stating the Sir Keir Starmer had dragged his heels on legislation to force tech companies to ban nude photos on children's phones - and The Female Lead frustrated at the slow progress
“Let me record my respect for Jess Phillips and what she has done and continues to do. This is an area we announced back in December when launched our Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, that we would take action in relation to the ability to children to send and receive nude images. I’m pleased to say that since we’ve made that announcement some companies have taken necessary measures. Today is about taking it up, putting the bar higher, saying to all tech companies, ‘You’ve all got to do this now. And if you don’t do it, we’ll change the law to ensure that you do’. These tech companies are brilliant innovators, this is not beyond their ability so it’s a question of will, their will to do it and our will do something about it if they don’t.”
On Australia and Germany having strong take-down regulator models in place with Big Tech
“As tech and Ai have developed, very many people, particularly parents, are getting worried. Each country is looking at what can we do to protect children better? So we are looking at what other countries have done and talking to other countries about it. This device level control to stop children sending or receiving nude images will make us a world leader.”
On banning social media platforms in the UK if they don’t comply
“I do expect all tech companies to comply. There is no question this can only apply to some and not others, it has got to be everyone across the board. I genuinely believe they have the ability to do it. This is to say, ‘You must have something to stop these images being sent or received by children. It’s pretty common sense.’ There are no excuses for anyone. It does need to be backed up by us saying, ‘If you don’t do it we’ll change the law.’”
On The Female Lead wanting a deadline and more action to protect women and girls
“You’re right to keep pushing it. It’s a personal priority. Working with you and others, there’s always this question of pushing us further. Quite right too. That’s what accountability is about. People having the right to say to their government, ‘I’m glad you’ve done that, but go further, go quicker’.”
After just five minutes talking to the Prime Minister at London Tech Week, we left him with one ask: Do better, do more.
Watch the full interview here:
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