‘No platform gets free pass’: Starmer weighs tougher online safety laws, under-16 social media ban

Starmer considers under-16 social media ban, vows ‘no free pass’ for tech platforms

• UK plans stricter internet safety rules to protect children
• Consultation may ban social media for under-16s, curb AI chatbots
• New powers to update online safety laws faster as tech evolves

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The UK government is preparing stricter internet safety measures aimed at protecting children, including a consultation on banning social media access for under-16s and curbing features such as infinite scrolling and AI chatbot use.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said platforms would no longer be allowed to exploit gaps in child-safety regulation. “No online platform would receive a ‘free pass’ when it comes to safeguarding children.”

The consultation, expected to begin in March, will seek public views on restricting minors’ access to certain artificial intelligence tools and limiting addictive design elements commonly associated with “doomscrolling”.

Faster law-making powers

Ministers are also proposing powers that would allow authorities to update online safety rules more quickly as technology evolves. Officials say this would prevent delays caused by lengthy legislative processes and enable regulators to respond to emerging risks within months rather than years.

The renewed push follows tensions between the government and tech companies after an AI chatbot on X generated fake nude images of women earlier this year.

“Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up. With my government, Britain will be a leader, not a follower, when it comes to online safety,” Starmer said.

Further measures under review

Authorities are examining additional safeguards, including:

• preventing minors from using VPNs to bypass age checks and access harmful content
• requiring chatbots to block illegal material
• expanding rules against non-consensual sexualised imagery

Several European countries are considering similar age-based restrictions, reflecting broader concern about the impact of digital platforms on children.

Changes linked to “Jools’ Law”

The government also plans to amend data-retention rules after campaigning by families under “Jools’ Law”. The campaign began after the 2022 death of 14-year-old Jools, whose mother has struggled to obtain his online data.

Current rules require police or coroners to request a child’s data within 12 months of death, but families say companies often delete information before requests are made. Proposed changes would require relevant data to be preserved within five days if it may help determine the cause of death.

Opposition parties have criticised the government for moving too slowly and are calling for Parliament to vote on any potential social-media ban. Meanwhile, tech firms warn that tighter controls, particularly limits on VPN use, could have implications for adult privacy and access to services.