Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to strengthen online safety for children in the UK, closing loopholes in existing laws and consulting on a potential social media ban for under-16s.
The government's proposal, as reported by the BBC, includes introducing powers to quickly respond to emerging online trends and updating legislation to preserve children's social media and online data.
A public consultation is set to launch in March, seeking opinions on restricting children's access to AI chatbots and limiting infinite scrolling features, also known as doomscrolling.
Background and Motivation
The move follows concerns over the use of AI chatbots, such as Grok, which was used to create fake nude images of women, prompting arguments between ministers and X's Elon Musk.
Sir Keir Starmer stated, "The action we took on Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass."
Proposed Measures
Other measures being considered include preventing children from using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access pornography and amending the law to require chatbots to protect users from illegal content.
The government also plans to change rules on how children's social media data is stored, following the Jools' Law campaign, which was sparked by the death of 14-year-old Jools in 2022.
Reaction and Response
Lord Nash, a Conservative former minister, welcomed the adoption of Jools' Law, but urged the government to raise the age limit to 16 for the most harmful platforms.
Shadow education secretary Laura Trott and Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Munira Wilson accused the government of inaction, calling for clearer timelines and firmer action.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the government is "determined to give children the childhood they deserve" and will take action to protect them online.
