Keir Starmer has outlined new measures to regulate social media companies and AI chatbot providers, as the government moves to strengthen online child protection.
The proposed crackdown will expand enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act and could include fines, platform bans, and new restrictions for under 16 social media users.
Technology secretary Liz Kendall stated that the government is “determined to give children the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future at time of rapid technological change”, emphasising that child protection must be prioritised over corporate interests.
What protections are currently in place?
The Online Safety Act (2023) was created to protect children and adults online. The Act puts a range of duties on social media companies and search engines, making them responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms. The Act enforces providers to implement systems and processes to reduce risks of their services being used for illegal activity and to take it down if it were to appear.
The measures being discussed in the consultation are based on the foundations of the UK’s Online Safety Act, which allows regulator Ofcom to fine companies that fail to remove illegal content or protect users. However, with the current climate of rapidly growing AI services, there is a much broader range of concerns in online safety than just regular harmful content on social media, the rise of AI tools has exposed gaps in the original framework of the UK’s social media laws, especially around those capable of producing compromising content.
What Changes Could be Ahead?
Starmer has stated that platforms could face much tougher restrictions including heavy fines and overall potential service bans if they fail to abide by new rules of removing illegal or harming content.
Ofcom will also be having a larger role in oversight powers in regulating social media. The government signalled that “no platform gets a free pass”. Starmer stated that “technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up” warning that firms refusing to comply with new regulations will face serious consequences.
What About AI?
Ministers are planning a crackdown on “vile illegal content created by AI”. Providers are facing down potential penalties if chatbots generate harmful or illegal content. Much of the drive towards restricting these AI services has come in response to the row over users of Elon Musk’s Grok AI tool creating sexualised content of real people on X.
With more and more children using chatbots and AI providers for everything from homework help to mental health support, the government has said that they must “move fast to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act”. If agreed upon by MPs after a public consultation, a ban for under-16 users of social media could be forthcoming, possibly coming into effect this summer.
What do child welfare groups think?
The government proposal has received mixed reactions across Westminster and beyond. Child safety campaigners such as the 5rights foundation, have welcomed the tougher stance from the government, arguing that stronger enforcement is necessary and long overdue as online harms have continued to affect young people in the UK.
Chris Sherwood, the CEO of the National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s promise to act quickly and decisively to hold tech companies to account and make the online world safer for children. The status quo can’t continue, and without real change the pressure for an under‑16 social media ban will only increase.
Is this enough?
However, the proposal has not gone uncriticised, some opposition figures and digital rights groups have questioned whether consultation alone at this point goes far enough.
Chi Onwurah, chair of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Commitee stated that she thinks the Online Safety Act “just isn’t up to scratch” government “needs to go further” in the battle to fight misinformation and harmful content that may not technically classify as illegal.
Many digital rights groups such as the Open Rights Group, suggest that immediate legislative amendments would be required to prevent further delays in resolving his grave issue. Critics have also raised concerns around balancing safety measured alongside freedom of expression, warning that overly broad and enforced restrictions could create new challenges for online speech and innovation.
When will the reforms come into effect?
The Prime Minister confirmed today that his government is taking the legal action to lay the groundwork for immediate action following next months consultation on children’s wellbeing online. The Government is committed to resolve this pressing issue, and these powers will mean that they can act rapidly on evidence within months.
Liz Kendall also said: “To help parents immediately, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign. It offers practical guidance on safety settings, conversation prompts parents can use with their children, and age‑appropriate advice on dealing with harmful content, including misogynistic material and ragebait.”
The children’s digital wellbeing consultation will launch next month and will be guided by what parents and children say they need now, not in several years’ time.