Social media behemoths could face a ban or hefty fines if they do not promptly remove unauthorized intimate images posted on their platforms.
These platforms have been given a warning ahead of stringent new laws that will require them to take down such posts within 48 hours. Government officials have criticized tech companies for their sluggish response to the sharing of non-consensual images online.
Keir Starmer, who formerly led the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and is now an MP, emphasized the importance of combatting violence against women and girls. He stated, “As Prime Minister, I am committed to exhaustive efforts in safeguarding women from violence and abuse. The online realm represents the frontline in the contemporary battle against violence targeting women and girls.”
The regulatory body Ofcom is currently exploring methods to digitally tag these images to ensure automatic removal if any attempt is made to repost them.
Similar measures are already in place for images related to child abuse and terrorism. The government is introducing this legislation as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is progressing through Parliament.
Under the proposed rules, victims would only need to report an image once for it to be taken down from multiple platforms.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stressed that platforms will no longer receive a free pass. She added, “No woman should have to chase platform after platform, waiting for days for an image to be removed. With this government, one report ensures protection across all platforms.
The internet should be a secure environment where women and girls can feel safe, respected, and empowered.” Minister for violence against women and girls, Alex Davies-Jones, highlighted that the legal change will compel platforms to act swiftly.
This move follows the government’s announcement of intentions to close legal gaps that have allowed chatbots to generate deepfake nude images. The decision comes in response to public outcry over the use of Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot on the social media platform X, widely employed to create fake nude images of women.
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