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Written question asked by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 June 2026. It was answered by Natalie Fleet (Labour) on Friday, 26 June 2026 on behalf of the Home Office.

Internet: Children

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 on Digital Safety: Children, what criteria the Government will use to determine whether technology companies have complied with its request to prevent children taking, sharing or viewing nude images on devices; whether those criteria will include measuring trends in levels of self-generated child sexual abuse material; and if she will publish the criteria before the expiry of the three-month period.

Answer

The Prime Minister announced on Monday 8 June that Britain would become the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share and view nude imagery. We will work with tech companies for three months to ensure that comprehensive nudity detection is implemented at operating system level, with adults able to switch it off by proving they are over-18 through age assurance.

We have stated that, if companies do not act within three months, then the government will bring forward legislation to force them to activate the technology. This will include fines for companies. Whether legislation is necessary will be reviewed internally on an ongoing basis, dependent on progress from industry in meeting the government's stated objective. Criteria for success will be aligned to achieving comprehensive nudity detection implemented across smartphone and tablet operating systems. We will of course monitor the impact of these interventions, including through data from the third sector, and this will include measuring trends of self-generated child sexual abuse material.

Regarding when the Government will respond to the Growing up in the online world consultation: the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published a range of evidence which has been considered, and it plans to come back in July on further matters. The Secretary of State's intention is to lay before the House regulations on a ban, and to have a vote on them by the end of this year.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10620
Session
2026-27
Related items
Digital Safety: Children
Monday, 8 June 2026
Proceeding contributions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer
Yes
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Children Internet Protection Safety Intimate image abuse
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk