The federal government has introduced a sweeping crackdown on tech companies to guard kids from unlawful content material.
It can embody measures to remove “vile unlawful content material created by AI”, and will even open the door to an Australia-style age limit on social media, a Quantity 10 spokesperson stated.
It additionally guarantees to close down the loophole that has allowed chatbots to produce illegal content.
On Sunday Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated “no platform will get a free go” from the brand new restrictions.
Keir Starmer insisted no platforms can be given a ‘free go’ from the brand new measures
Underneath the plans, ministers will “shut a authorized loophole and power all AI chatbot suppliers to abide by unlawful content material duties within the On-line Security Act”, in line with a authorities announcement.
Launched in 2023, the Online Safety Act imposes strict duties on social media platforms – significantly in defending kids from dangerous content material.
The federal government has additionally promised a session with tech companies to debate how one can finest safeguard kids.
A spokesperson stated which means “with the ability to act shortly on measures like setting a minimal age restrict for social media and proscribing options like infinite scrolling which are dangerous”.
In December final 12 months Australia turned the primary nation on the planet to introduce a compulsory minimal age of 16 for accessing social media platforms.
Sir Keir stated: “As a dad of two youngsters, I do know the challenges and the concerns that folks face ensuring their youngsters are secure on-line.
“Know-how is shifting actually quick, and the regulation has obtained to maintain up. With my authorities, Britain shall be a frontrunner, not a follower, on the subject of on-line security.
“At the moment we’re closing loopholes that put kids in danger, and laying the groundwork for additional motion.
“We’re appearing to guard kids’s wellbeing and assist dad and mom to navigate the minefield of social media.”
Know-how Secretary Liz Kendall stated: “I do know that folks throughout the nation need us to behave urgently to maintain their kids secure on-line.
“That is why I stood as much as Grok and Elon Musk after they flouted British legal guidelines and British values.
“We is not going to wait to take the motion households want, so we’ll tighten the foundations on AI chatbots and we’re laying the bottom so we will act at tempo on the outcomes of the session on younger folks and social media.
“We’re decided to provide kids the childhood they deserve and to arrange them for the long run at a time of speedy technological change.”
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Shadow schooling secretary Laura Trott dismissed the proposals as “extra smoke and mirrors from a authorities that has chosen inaction on the subject of stopping under-16s accessing social media”.
Ms Trott stated the proof that social media content material harms under-16s is “clear” and stated they “ought to be prevented from accessing” it.
Britain, she stated, “is lagging behind whereas different nations have recognised the dangers and begun to behave”.
Her view was echoed by Dr Becky Foljambe, founding father of Well being Professionals for Safer Screens, who stated ministers ought to “cease speaking and act, as every single day they dither, extra kids are harmed”.
