Keir Starmer announces stricter online safety rules for children

The UK government is cracking down on online platforms to better protect children, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced. 

Under new proposals, no social media or internet platform will receive a “free pass” on child safety.

As part of the initiative, the government plans to close loopholes in current laws and consult on a possible social media ban for children under 16. 

Additional measures include powers to quickly update regulations in response to emerging online behaviors and changes to how children’s online data is stored, following advocacy from the campaign Jools’ Law.

The plans come after the death of 14-year-old Jools Roome, whose mother, Ellen Roome, highlighted that under current rules, data relevant to a child’s death can be inaccessible because companies are only required to preserve it for 12 months. 

The new rules would ensure relevant data is preserved within five days, giving families better chances to understand circumstances surrounding such tragedies.

Prime Minister Starmer emphasised, “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.”

The government will also consider restricting children’s access to AI chatbots, limiting features like infinite scrolling for minors, and preventing the use of VPNs to access harmful content. 

Critics, including opposition politicians, argued the measures are not strong enough and urged faster action to protect children from online harm.

UK Government Targets Online Child Safety: Social Media Platforms Won’t Get a Free Pass