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More than 100 MPs have called on Apple and Google to introduce nudity-blocking technology on children’s smartphones without delay, amid concerns about rising levels of online child sexual abuse and image-based exploitation.
An open letter signed by 106 parliamentarians from across the political divide, including Sarah Champion, Kim Leadbeater and Anneliese Dodds, calls on the technology companies to introduce protections designed to prevent children from creating, sharing or viewing nude images on their devices.
The letter was coordinated by Alistair Strathern MP and the NSPCC, which estimates that 11,400 online child sexual abuse offences will have been recorded by police since the Government issued a three-month deadline for technology companies to introduce the protections on 8 June. This equates to an average of around 100 offences a day.
The signatories expressed concern about the use of nude images to exploit, groom and blackmail children, warning that such abuse can take place beyond the reach of content moderators and existing regulation.
The campaign highlights how abuse can begin when a child shares a single semi-nude or nude image of themselves, which can subsequently be used to threaten, manipulate or coerce them.
The Government has announced plans to introduce legislation making nudity-blocking technology compulsory on smartphones used by children in the UK. However, the MPs are urging Apple and Google to implement the necessary measures before legislation comes into force.
The letter also warns that without comprehensive protections, perpetrators will continue to be able to exploit children across a range of platforms, including private messaging services that will not be covered by the forthcoming social media ban.
NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood welcomed the cross-party support, saying technology companies had the resources and capability to help prevent the creation and spread of child sexual abuse material.
He called on Apple and Google to direct their resources towards introducing technology that would prevent children from taking nude images in the first place, warning that further delays would leave more children and families exposed to the consequences of abuse.
Strathern said the Government had demonstrated leadership by committing to legislation requiring device-level protections, but warned that the legislative process would take time.
He said technology companies should act immediately rather than wait for legislation, arguing that they already knew the requirements were forthcoming and had the capability to implement the necessary safeguards.
The MPs said urgent action was needed to reduce the risk of children experiencing exploitation, extortion and image-based abuse while the Government’s proposed legislative measures were developed.
