UK to require Apple and Google to block explicit images on children's smartphones

London – Education Secretary Lisa Nandy announced that the UK government will move forward with legislation compelling Apple and Google to block explicit images on smartphones used by children, after negotiations with the tech firms failed to produce a breakthrough. The proposed law will require the two companies to implement age‑verification and content‑filtering mechanisms on devices accessed by users under 16, extending the government's recent ban on social‑media accounts for that age group. Ministers said the measures are intended to protect minors from harmful material and will be enforced through statutory obligations rather than voluntary compliance.

The decision places the government in direct conflict with the two leading Silicon Valley firms, which have previously resisted similar regulatory demands. Officials indicated that the legislation will be drafted within weeks and presented to Parliament for debate, signaling a firm stance on digital safety for children. The move follows a broader policy push to tighten online safeguards, and authorities expect the new rules to come into effect later this year, pending parliamentary approval.