Technology companies operating in Britain will be legally required to block unsolicited sexual images from Thursday, as tougher online safety rules come into force amid growing concern over abuse and AI-generated content.
Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, cyberflashing has now been designated a priority offence, placing strict obligations on platforms to actively detect and prevent the sharing of unsolicited nude images. Cyberflashing has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since January 2024, punishable by up to two years in prison.
The new rules apply to major platforms including Meta Platforms’ Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and X, as well as dating apps and websites hosting pornographic content.
“Platforms are now required by law to detect and prevent this material,” said UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. She added that the internet must be a place where women and girls feel safe, citing a poll published in September showing that one in three teenage girls had received unsolicited sexual images.
Britain’s media regulator Ofcom will consult on the specific measures platforms must implement to comply with the law, the government said.
DEEPFAKES UNDER GLOBAL SCRUTINY
The move comes amid growing international backlash against sexually explicit AI-generated deepfakes. France has launched an investigation into X over explicit deepfake images generated through its chatbot Grok, calling the content “manifestly illegal.”
Earlier this week, the European Commission said it was examining Grok’s so-called “spicy mode” very seriously, warning that such content had no place in Europe. Kendall also urged X to act urgently to curb a surge in intimate deepfake images, describing the material as “absolutely appalling.”
Ofcom said on Monday that it had contacted X to seek clarification on how it plans to meet its UK legal obligations. Authorities in India have also requested explanations from the platform.
X said through its safety account that it removes illegal content and suspends accounts involved in such activity. However, owner Elon Musk has publicly downplayed concerns, posting laughing emojis in response to edited bikini images of public figures shared online.
The UK government said the new rules signal a shift toward stronger enforcement, as regulators worldwide grapple with the rapid spread of AI-driven sexual abuse content.
