In a significant move to strengthen online safety, the UK government is considering stricter rules that could hold top tech executives personally accountable for failing to remove harmful content from their platforms.
Under the proposed amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, senior executives could face legal action, including imprisonment, if their companies do not comply with orders to remove non-consensual explicit images. The UK Parliament is expected to debate this proposal next week.
Earlier this year, the government had already made it mandatory for technology companies to remove such content within 48 hours of being notified. Companies that fail to act can face fines of up to 10% of their eligible global revenue or even risk having their services blocked in the country.
With the new proposal, authorities aim to go beyond corporate penalties by placing responsibility directly on individuals in leadership roles. The move is intended to ensure stricter compliance with enforcement orders issued by the communications regulator.
Sharing intimate images without consent is already illegal in the UK. However, many victims have reported ongoing challenges in getting such content permanently removed from online platforms.
The UK’s online safety minister, Kanishka Narayan, said, “Too many women have endured the distress of having intimate images shared online without their consent. This is not an optional requirement; it’s a duty that every tech leader must take seriously,” highlighting the urgency of stronger enforcement.
The discussion is part of a broader push to improve online safety standards. Authorities are also exploring additional measures, including potential restrictions on social media access for users under 16, similar to steps taken in other countries.
Officials stated that the proposed changes are focused on protecting women and girls, especially as the spread of such content continues to rise. The growing use of AI tools to generate explicit images has further intensified concerns.
The government emphasised that these measures are part of wider efforts to tackle online abuse in a digital environment where private content can spread rapidly across platforms.
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