British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a significant expansion of the UK’s online safety laws, declaring that no technology platform will receive a “free pass” when it comes to the protection of children. Under new government measures, a legal loophole will be closed to force all AI chatbot providers to comply with the illegal content duties outlined in the Online Safety Act. This crackdown follows recent government intervention regarding harmful content on the AI platform Grok and is intended to ensure that rapidly evolving technologies do not bypass safety regulations.
The Prime Minister is also seeking new legal powers to allow the government to act within months on the findings of an upcoming consultation regarding children’s digital wellbeing. These powers would enable ministers to bypass the years-long process usually required for primary legislation, allowing for the swift implementation of age limits for social media and the restriction of addictive features like infinite scrolling. The government’s upcoming consultation will further explore potential age restrictions on VPNs and AI chatbots, as well as adjustments to the age of digital consent.
In addition to these preventative measures, the government plans to introduce “Jools’ Law” through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. This will require tech companies to preserve the social media data of a deceased child to assist coroners and grieving families, ensuring vital evidence is not deleted. To support parents immediately, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the “You Won’t Know until You Ask” campaign, providing practical guidance on safety settings and advice for navigating harmful online content with children.
