The UK government is set to introduce a stringent law mandating technology companies to remove non-consensual intimate images, including deepfake and "revenge porn," within 48 hours of notification. This legislative move, spearheaded by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aims to address what he describes as a "national emergency" and shift the responsibility from victims to the tech firms and perpetrators.

New Legal Framework for Online Safety

The proposed amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill seeks to align the treatment of intimate image abuse with that of child sexual abuse material and terrorist content. Companies failing to comply could face fines up to 10% of their global sales or risk being blocked in the UK. The initiative follows a significant rise in reports of intimate image abuse, with a 20.9% increase noted in 2024.

Role of Ofcom and Internet Service Providers

Under the new law, Ofcom will be tasked with enforcing the regulations, ensuring that victims do not have to repeatedly report the same image across different platforms. The media regulator will explore digital watermarking to automatically flag reposted images. Internet service providers will receive guidance to block access to rogue sites hosting illegal content, further tightening the net on non-consensual explicit material.

Government and Public Response

Prime Minister Starmer, writing for The Guardian, highlighted the pervasive issue of institutional misogyny, which has historically minimized the severity of such abuses. He stressed the importance of holding tech companies accountable, stating, "The burden of tackling abuse must no longer fall on victims." Technology Secretary Liz Kendall echoed this sentiment, declaring an end to the era of tech firms having a "free pass."

The legislation follows a recent confrontation with X, where the Grok AI tool was used to generate explicit images, prompting government intervention. The new law aims to prevent similar incidents and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and extortion.