Arabic version: المملكة المتحدة تقترح اتخاذ إجراءات سريعة ضد مشاركة الصور غير المتفق عليها
Tech platforms would have to remove intimate images which have been shared without consent within 48 hours, under a proposed UK law. According to BBC News, this proposed law aims to treat intimate image abuse with the same severity as child sexual abuse material and terrorist content.
The proposals are being made through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is making its way through the House of Lords. If tech firms fail to comply, they could face fines of up to 10% of their global sales or have their services blocked in the UK.
Janaya Walker, interim director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, praised the initiative, emphasizing that it rightly places the responsibility on tech companies to act. Under the plans, victims would only have to flag an image once, rather than contact different platforms separately.
The proposal would also provide guidance for internet service providers to be able to block access to sites hosting illegal content, targeting rogue websites that currently fall outside of the reach of the Online Safety Act. Women, girls, and LGBT people are disproportionately affected by intimate image abuse, highlighting the urgent need for these measures.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reflected on the severe impact of such abuses, stating that his government is taking urgent action against chatbots and ‘nudification’ tools. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall reinforced this sentiment, declaring that the days of tech firms having a free pass are over. The announcement follows previous tensions between the government and tech platforms regarding the use of AI tools for generating non-consensual images.
As this legislation progresses, it signals a significant shift in how the UK addresses online abuse, particularly concerning the safety and dignity of vulnerable groups. The government is poised to take further action against AI-generated content that perpetuates such violations, ensuring a more robust framework for protecting individuals online.
