Home / Technology
New UK law to force tech giants to delete intimate images within 48 hours
Failure to comply could see social media companies lose 10% of their global revenue
Social media giants could soon face massive fines unless they remove intimate images shared without consent within 48 hours.
Under new UK government proposals, tech firms must treat intimate image abuse with the same gravity as terrorism or child sexual abuse material.
Companies that fail to comply risk being fined up to 10% of their global turnover or seeing their services blocked entirely across the country.
The plans, introduced via an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, aim to end the exhausting "whack-a-mole" process victims currently endure. Instead of contacting every platform individually, victims would only need to flag an image once.
Sir Keir Starmer told BBC Breakfast that tech companies are “already under that duty when it comes to terrorist material so it can be done. It's a known mechanism,” adding that “we need to pursue this with the same vigour.”
The legislation also mandates that once an image is removed, platforms must block it from ever being re-uploaded. This move disproportionately protects women, girls, and the LGBT community, who are most frequently targeted by this abuse.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall was firm on the government's stance, stating: “The days of tech firms having a free pass are over... no woman should have to chase platform after platform, waiting days for an image to come down.”
This crackdown follows a 21% rise in reports of image abuse and a recent standoff with X over AI-generated content. By placing the burden of proof and action on providers, the UK hopes to finally secure the digital safety of victims.