Tech Firms Required to Remove Abusive Images Within 48 Hours: New Law Proposed
Tech platforms in the UK will soon be mandated to remove abusive images shared without consent within just 48 hours, according to a proposed law. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to addressing intimate image abuse with the same intensity as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and terrorist content.
Key Points of the Proposed Law
– Strict Compliance: Companies that fail to comply with the new guidelines could face fines amounting to 10% of their global sales or risk having their services blocked in the UK.
– Prime Minister’s Commitment: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that this action is part of an ongoing battle on behalf of victims, reinforcing the responsibility of tech firms to protect users.
– Responsibility Shift: Janaya Walker, interim director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, commended the proposal for placing the onus on technology companies to take immediate action.
– Streamlined Reporting for Victims: Under this law, victims will only need to report an abusive image once, rather than contacting multiple platforms individually. Tech companies will be required to prevent the re-upload of images that have already been taken down.
– Blocking Illegal Content: The proposal aims to provide internet service providers with the guidelines necessary to block access to sites hosting illegal content, targeting rogue websites that currently evade the Online Safety Act.
Demographics Affected by Intimate Image Abuse (IIA)
– Targeted Groups: Women, girls, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are disproportionately affected by IIA. A government report from July 2025 indicated that young men and boys are increasingly victims of sextortion, where they are coerced into paying money to prevent the sharing of intimate images.
– Rise in Reports: A Parliamentary report published in May 2025 noted a 20.9% increase in reports of intimate image abuse in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Prime Minister’s Perspective
During an appearance on BBC Breakfast, Prime Minister Starmer stated that this law will relieve victims from the exhausting process of whack-a-mole image removal, pointing out that tech companies already manage similar duties concerning terrorist content. He asserted that the same mechanisms used in those cases should be applied here with equal diligence.
Enforcement and Oversight
Sir Keir outlined that enforcement will involve fines and other yet-to-be-defined measures, managed by various oversight bodies, addressing online conduct as both a regulatory and criminal issue. While he does not foresee prison sentences for tech executives, the law aims to hold companies accountable for their platforms.
A Changing Landscape for Tech Firms
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall remarked, 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 legislative push follows a confrontation with X in January regarding the inappropriate use of AI tools to generate non-consensual images, leading to tighter regulations introduced in February that made non-consensual deepfake images illegal in the UK.
Conclusion
The proposed law mandating tech firms to remove abusive images within 48 hours represents a significant step forward in the fight against intimate image abuse. By enforcing accountability and providing streamlined support for victims, the UK aims to create a safer online environment for all users, particularly those disproportionately affected by these violations.