No online platform gets ‘free pass’ when it comes to child safety, says Starmer

No online platform will get a “free pass” when it comes to children’s safety online, Sir Keir Starmer said, before laying out new plans to prevent harm.

Children could be stopped from illegally accessing pornography using virtual private networks (VPNs) and restricted from talking to online chatbots under the Prime Minister’s proposals to improve online safety.

The government also plans to consult on banning children from social media and restricting endless scrolling.

Sir Keir will meet parents and young people on Monday to insist the Government will do all it can to keep children safe online.

The government is promising to close legal loopholes that allow chatbots to create deepfake nude images and plans to impose further restrictions on social media.

It follows a war of words between ministers and Elon Musk earlier this year after the Grok AI chatbot embedded on social media site X was widely used to create fake images of naked women.

Before launching the consultation, the Prime Minister said: “As a father of two teenagers, I know the challenges and concerns parents face in ensuring their children are safe online.

“Technology is advancing very quickly and the law needs to keep pace. Thanks to my government, the UK will be a leader, not a follower, when it comes to online security.”

“Our action against Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass.

“Today we are closing the gaps that put children at risk and laying the groundwork for further steps.

“We act to protect the welfare of children and help parents navigate the minefield of social media.”

The consultation on new social media protections will begin in March and will be guided by what parents and children want to see.

Ministers also plan to introduce powers to quickly change the law in response to changing online behavior through the Child Welfare and Schools Act.

Elsewhere, changes to the Crime and Policing Act will be used to ensure chatbots protect users from illegal content.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “I know parents up and down the country want us to take urgent action to keep their children safe online. That’s why I stood up to Grok and Elon Musk for their disregard for British laws and British values.”

“We won’t wait to take the action families need, so we’ll be tightening the rules on AI chatbots and laying the groundwork so we can act quickly based on the results of consultations on young people and social media.

“We are determined to give children the childhood they deserve and prepare them for the future in an age of rapid technological change.”

The Crime and Policing Bill will be updated to include measures to protect children’s social media and online data, following calls from campaign group Jools Law.

The campaign was launched by Ellen Roome after questions about the death of her 14-year-old son Jools could not be answered because digital activity records could not be accessed.

Lord Nash, a former Conservative minister who campaigned for tighter social media controls on children in the House of Lords, welcomed the passage of the Jools Bill by the Government.

He added: “But we have a moral duty to ensure this is never needed in the future by avoiding future tragedies.

“There are too many children being terribly harmed every day by social media and this announcement will not stop that. This consultation is just a delay disguised as a process.”

“Rather than negotiate further, the government must now raise the age limit for the most harmful platforms to 16 and has the opportunity to do so when the amendment affecting this, which was overwhelmingly passed in the House of Lords, returns to the House of Commons. Every day we delay, we fail more children.”

Shadow education secretary Laura Trott said the announcement was “more smoke and mirrors from a Government that has chosen inaction on stopping under-16s accessing social media”.

He said: “The Labor Party has said repeatedly that they have no view on whether under-16s should be blocked from accessing social media. This is not good enough. I am clear that we must stop under-16s from accessing these platforms.”

“The evidence of harm is clear and parents, teachers and children have also made their voices heard. While the UK has lagged behind, other countries have begun to recognize the risks and take action.”

Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Munira Wilson said: “There is no time to waste, but the Government continues to get the job done. We need a much clearer and more precise timetable for when they will take action.”

“Parliament deserves a real say and the chance to properly scrutinize the Government’s plans. Instead the Prime Minister is desperate to buy himself time with MPs with an approach that will limit oversight now and in the future.”

Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said: “This is a welcome down payment but the Prime Minister must now go further.

“Sir Keir Starmer is committed to introducing a new Online Safety Bill that strengthens regulations and makes clear that product safety and children’s welfare are the cost of doing business in the UK.”