Starmer Demands Apple and Google Ban Nude Images on Kids’ Phones

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a stark demand to Apple and Google: activate built-in safety features to stop children from viewing sexually explicit images on their devices. The intervention marks the government’s most direct challenge yet to Silicon Valley’s handling of online child safety.

Speaking ahead of new legislation, Starmer told the tech giants they must enable existing parental controls and content filters by default on devices used by under-18s. It’s a move that could affect millions of young smartphone users across the UK.

Existing Features Remain Dormant

Both Apple and Google already offer tools to block inappropriate content. Apple’s Screen Time feature can restrict adult websites and explicit content, whilst Google’s Family Link provides similar protections. But here’s the problem: they’re optional. Parents must actively seek them out and switch them on.

Government officials estimate that fewer than 40% of parents currently use these built-in safety controls. That leaves roughly 3.2 million children in the UK with unrestricted access to adult content on their phones and tablets.

The Prime Minister wants that to change.

Tech Giants Face Regulatory Pressure

The demand comes as Parliament finalises the Online Safety Act, which gives regulators unprecedented powers to fine companies up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover for failing to protect children online. Ofcom, the communications watchdog, has been tasked with enforcement.

A senior government source said: „We’re not asking these companies to invent new technology. The tools already exist in their products. We’re simply insisting they make child safety the default setting, not an afterthought that parents have to hunt for in complex menus.”

Industry Response Still Unclear

Neither Apple nor Google has formally responded to Starmer’s call. Tech industry observers suggest the companies may resist mandatory default settings, arguing that different families have different needs and preferences. And they’ve got a point – what constitutes appropriate content varies considerably across cultures and households.

Yet child safety campaigners have welcomed the intervention. The NSPCC reported a 35% increase in counselling sessions related to online pornography exposure among children aged 11-16 over the past two years. Those aren’t just statistics. They’re kids struggling with premature exposure to adult content.

The government expects a response from both companies within weeks. If they don’t comply voluntarily, ministers have indicated they won’t hesitate to use new regulatory powers. For Apple and Google, the message is clear: the days of optional child safety are numbered.