Britain Considers Under 16 Social Media Ban And AI Chatbot Loophole Closure
Britain could introduce an Australian style ban on social media for children under 16 as early as this year. The government also plans to close a loophole that leaves some artificial intelligence chatbots outside existing safety rules. Together, the measures aim to strengthen protections for young people and respond more quickly to digital risks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government launched a consultation last month on restricting social media access for under 16s. Ministers are now working to amend legislation so they can implement any changes within months of the consultation ending. As a result, new rules could take effect before the end of the year.
Spain, Greece and Slovenia have signalled similar intentions after Australia became the first country to block access to social media for under 16s. Meanwhile, scrutiny has intensified following reports that Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok generated non consensual sexualised images.
Online Safety Act Under Review
Britain’s 2023 Online Safety Act introduced one of the world’s strictest digital safety regimes. However, it does not regulate one to one interactions with AI chatbots unless users share content with others. Technology minister Liz Kendall said the government will close that loophole.
Kendall warned that regulators cannot allow gaps to persist after the law took nearly eight years to pass and come into force. She said she and the prime minister share concerns about the impact of AI chatbots on children and young people. In particular, she noted that some children are forming one to one relationships with AI systems that were not designed with child safety as a priority.
The government will outline its proposals before June. Furthermore, Kendall said technology firms will bear responsibility for ensuring their systems comply with British law.
Wider Child Protection Measures
In addition to the social media ban, ministers will consult on automatic data preservation orders when a child dies. This step would allow investigators to secure key online evidence quickly, a measure long sought by bereaved families.
The consultation will also examine powers to curb stranger pairing on gaming consoles. It will consider blocking the sending or receiving of nude images. Lawmakers will introduce the new measures as amendments to existing crime and child protection legislation currently before parliament.
Although the proposals focus on protecting children, they may affect adults’ privacy and access to online services. Previous measures have already created tension with the United States over free speech and regulatory reach.
Some major pornography websites have blocked British users rather than conduct age checks. However, users can bypass those restrictions through widely available virtual private networks, which the government is considering limiting for minors.
Many parents and safety advocates support a ban on social media for children. Nevertheless, Kendall acknowledged concerns from some child protection groups. They warn that a ban could push harmful activity into less regulated spaces or create a sharp cliff edge at age 16. She added that ministers must still define legally what counts as social media before introducing any ban.
With inputs from Reuters