Apple and Google Miss Deadline to Block Child Nudity on Their Phones in the UK

In June, the UK government gave tech giants three months to prevent child nudity images from being taken, viewed, or shared on their phones. When the deadline arrived on Tuesday, it emerged that Apple and Google had failed to meet the deadline. Consequently, the government will introduce legislation to address this issue, which the UK claims will be the first of its kind globally.

Lisa Nandy, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media, and sport, announced the new legislation and highlighted the importance of the tech sector's ability to innovate quickly in critical situations. Nandy also plans to consider extending similar legal requirements to apps used by children, such as Instagram and Snapchat.

Both Meta and Snap have yet to respond to requests for comment. Chris Sherwood, CEO of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, criticized the tech companies for their inaction, stating that the deadline has passed and the government must now take action. Apple and Google have expressed their commitment to protecting children, with Apple pointing to its Communication Safety feature and Google stating that it is working with experts to keep children safe while also protecting privacy and access to information.

However, not everyone is in favor of the measures, with privacy advocates warning of a potential slippery slope towards wider surveillance. The UK government is also considering extending its social media ban for children under 16, which was announced earlier this year and is set to take effect in spring 2027.