Britain to make Apple, Google block nude images on kids’ devices

• Britain has strict online child safety protections, although the current rules mostly apply to services and platforms rather than devices.
• Privacy groups say protecting children is a “noble goal”, but criticise what they see as digital ID checks and surveillance software.
• Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says commitments by Apple and Google, while “a step in the right direction”, are ultimately insufficient.

LONDON – The British government will require technology companies such as Apple and Google to stop children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images on their phones and tablets, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has told the House of Commons.

Nandy said the government would introduce legislation “as soon as we can”, but declined to give a precise timetable.

The government gave Apple and Alphabet-owned Google a three-month deadline in June to introduce such measures voluntarily. Although both firms scan sensitive content for young users, neither comprehensively block the taking or sending of nude selfies.

Nandy praised Apple’s rollout of age checks earlier in 2026 on its operating system. She called commitments by the iPhone-maker and Google “a step in the right direction”, but said they were ultimately insufficient.

“For too long, technology companies have failed to protect children from some of the worst harms,” Nandy said. “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.”

A spokesman for Google said the company was “pleased to have made progress”, and that it was “fully committed” to working with lawmakers, app developers and safety experts on ways to keep children safe.

An Apple spokesman said the company in 2021 added a feature that prevents children from viewing or sharing photos or videos that contain nudity, and it now includes support for some third-party apps.

“We share the UK’s commitment to combating exploitation and abuse online, and have shared with UK officials future plans to strengthen Communication Safety and other tools even further to help keep kids safe,” the representative said.

Britain has strict online child safety protections, although the current rules mostly apply to services and platforms rather than devices. Pushing Apple and Google to introduce stronger, proactive nudity detection at the device level is a significant expansion, intended to stop children from creating and sharing intimate images of themselves online.

While child safety organisations have welcomed the prospective new laws, there are questions around privacy and technical feasibility. Currently, Apple and Google’s measures involve detecting nudity in an image that has already been taken.

Nandy said some questions needed to be ironed out, such as what devices the new rules would apply to.

She said the government would reassess legislation if the companies introduce the restrictions before a Bill is passed.

“Children cannot face more delays, so the government must act swiftly and ensure these measures are enshrined in law at the earliest opportunity,” said Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

In the Commons chamber, the Conservative Party’s Shadow Secretary of State Rebecca Paul also praised the announcement as a “a huge practical step, which has the potential to prevent immeasurable harm”, but added that details on the legislation remained vague.

Privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said online that protecting children is a “noble goal”, but criticised what it described as digital ID checks and surveillance software.

The restrictions will not apply to adults who have passed age verification.

Britain is on track to bring its social media ban for under-16s, announced earlier in the summer, into force by spring 2027, Nandy said. BLOOMBERG