UK Government Imposes Strict 48-Hour Deadline for Removal of Non-Consensual Intimate Images
Social media companies operating in the United Kingdom will now be legally required to take down intimate images shared online without consent within a strict 48-hour timeframe. This new mandate forms a central part of a fresh governmental crackdown on abusive digital content, with firms facing severe penalties for non-compliance.
Hefty Penalties for Non-Compliance
Under the proposed legislation, companies that fail to remove reported non-consensual intimate imagery within two days will be subject to substantial fines. These penalties could reach up to 10 per cent of a company's eligible global revenue. In extreme cases, the government reserves the right to block the offending services entirely within the UK. This legislative push follows recent ministerial action that successfully pressured Elon Musk's AI assistant, Grok, to disable a function widely exploited to generate fake nude images of women.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has framed this initiative as a critical step in the "21st century battle against violence against women and girls" in the digital sphere. An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill has been tabled, aiming to bolster safeguards for women and girls globally. This move addresses the alarming ease with which privately shared images can be disseminated online and the rapid proliferation of AI tools capable of creating sexually explicit content instantly.
Prime Minister's Pledge and Case Study
Sir Keir Starmer, drawing on his prior experience as Director of Public Prosecutions, stated: "I saw first-hand the unimaginable, often lifelong pain and trauma violence against women and girls causes. As Prime Minister, I will leave no stone unturned in the fight to protect women from violence and abuse." He emphasized that the online world is the modern frontline in this battle, necessitating urgent action against chatbots and "nudification" tools.
The government's resolve is underscored by high-profile cases like that of Georgia Harrison. In 2020, Celebrity Big Brother contestant Stephen Bear shared explicit footage of Harrison on his OnlyFans profile without her consent. Harrison successfully pursued legal action, securing record damages of £207,900—the highest sum ever awarded in a UK image abuse case. Bear was convicted of voyeurism and disclosing private sexual material, receiving a 22-month prison sentence in 2022. Released in January 2024 after serving half his term, Harrison continues to campaign against such violations, featuring in ITV documentaries Revenge Porn and Porn, Power, Profit.
Streamlined Reporting and Broader Regulatory Plans
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has announced plans to streamline the reporting process. The goal is to ensure victims need only report an image once for it to be removed across multiple platforms, with automatic deletion if re-uploaded. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall declared that the era of tech firms "having a free pass are over," asserting that women should not have to chase platforms waiting for removal. "Under this government, you report once and you're protected everywhere," she stated.
Minister for violence against women and girls, Alex Davies-Jones, added that the law change means "tech platforms can no longer drag their feet" in addressing online abuse. Furthermore, the government is considering plans, in consultation with communications regulator Ofcom, to classify non-consensual intimate images similarly to child sexual abuse and terrorism content. This classification would involve digital marking of such material, enabling automatic removal upon attempted reposting.
Closing Loopholes and Political Context
The government has also vowed to close legal loopholes that have allowed chatbots to create deepfake nude images and is planning additional curbs on social media. This follows a public dispute earlier this year between ministers and Elon Musk regarding his Grok AI chatbot's capabilities. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will publish guidance for internet providers on blocking access to "rogue websites" hosting such content, which may fall outside the scope of the existing Online Safety Act.
Shadow technology secretary Julia Lopez criticized the government's timing, noting that Labour had previously failed to act on a similar proposal from Conservative peer Baroness Charlotte Owen. Lopez accused the Prime Minister of arriving late to the issue and playing catch-up to avoid a backbench rebellion, suggesting a need for greater focus on real-world safety for women and girls as well.
