Parliamentarians from across the political divide are urging Apple and Google to introduce nudity blocking technology on children’s devices without any further delay.
An open letter, signed by 106 MPs including Sarah Champion, Kim Leadbeater and Anneliese Dodds, reveals a “deep concern about the way nude images are being used to exploit, groom, and blackmail children”, with these crimes “being committed out of sight from moderators and regulation”.
The demand for immediate action comes as the NSPCC estimates 11,400 online child sexual abuse offences – on average 100 every day - will have been recorded by police since Government issued a three-month deadline for compliance on 8 June.
These harms often begin with a child sharing a single semi-nude or nude image of themselves.
To prevent these images from being created, shared or viewed, Government recently announced plans to introduce legislation making nudity blocking technology compulsory on smartphones used by children in the UK.
With the Government’s intention now clear, MPs are calling on tech companies to get ahead of legislation and make the necessary changes without any further delay.
The letter also argues that without these comprehensive protections, perpetrators will be able to harm children across a range of platforms - including private messaging services which are not covered by the upcoming social media ban.
