UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Sets 48-Hour Deadline for Social Media Companies to Remove Revenge Porn
In a decisive move to combat online abuse, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a strict 48-hour ultimatum to social media giants, including Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter), Meta, TikTok, and others. The directive mandates the immediate removal of non-consensual intimate images from their platforms, with severe consequences for failure to comply.
Starmer's Stern Warning and Government Action
Starmer, in a post on X, condemned revenge porn as "utterly abhorrent" and highlighted the government's proactive stance. He revealed that authorities had already intervened to curb the misuse of the AI tool Grok, after users were discovered generating "vile" images through its features. Emphasizing that violence against women and girls is unacceptable, Starmer pledged further measures to address the issue.
In his statement, he wrote: "The sharing of non-consensual intimate images is utterly abhorrent. That's why when we learnt people were using the AI tool Grok to make vile images, we moved quickly to get it stopped. Today, we are going further. We are putting social media companies on notice to take down any non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours. I know there’s more to do. Violence against women and girls has no place in our society. We must root it out."
Potential Penalties for Non-Compliance
According to a report by The Guardian, social media companies in the UK face significant repercussions if they fail to adhere to the new requirements. Platforms could be subjected to fines amounting to millions of pounds or even be blocked entirely in the country. This enforcement applies after victims formally notify the companies, holding them accountable if such content continues to spread or is reposted despite clear alerts.
The government's approach aims to ensure stricter enforcement and faster resolution, shifting the burden away from victims. Starmer emphasized: "The burden of tackling abuse must no longer fall on victims. It must fall on perpetrators and on the companies that enable harm."
Regulatory Measures and AI Chatbot Scrutiny
In addition to the social media crackdown, the UK government plans to amend the crime and policing bill to regulate AI chatbots like X's Grok. This tool had been generating non-consensual images of women in bikinis or compromising positions until government threats prompted action from Elon Musk's company.
Grok AI has faced criticism and regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries, including Ireland, India, Malaysia, and the European Union, for its capability to produce sexualized and non-consensual images of women.
Enhanced Reporting Mechanisms for Victims
Victims of revenge porn will now have improved avenues for reporting. They can submit complaints directly to tech companies or to the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as outlined by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Upon filing a complaint, alerts can be disseminated across multiple platforms to facilitate quicker removal and prevent resharing.
Ofcom, the independent regulatory authority for the UK's communications industries, has been tasked with enforcing the ban on such images. This move eliminates the need for victims to repeatedly report the same content, as it often gets reposted thousands of times, streamlining the process and providing greater protection.
The UK government's comprehensive strategy underscores a firm commitment to safeguarding individuals from digital exploitation and holding technology firms accountable for harmful content on their platforms.
