Sir Keir Starmer urged to act quicker on online children's safety by MP

The Prime Minister issued a three-month ultimatum to Apple and Google to make it impossible for such images to be used on their platforms, otherwise he said the Government would legislate to force them.

Sir Keir wants firms to activate built-in features on their devices or come up with technological solutions on phones and tablets to detect and block such content.

It means all adults will need to verify their age if they want to take or view nude images.

Tech firms must implement changes or face new legislation, Sir Keir said, which could lead to fines, and as a last resort, criminal liability for tech bosses.

However, the Prime Minister is facing questions as to why he is not acting now to force the companies into complying.

Sarah Champion, the Rotherham MP who has long campaigned against child sexual abuse following the grooming gangs scandal, said the Government “should act now”.

She told The Yorkshire Post: “While the Prime Minister’s intervention is welcome, this isn’t a problem that has sprung up overnight. It’s been happening for years and it’s only getting worse.

“Banning children isn’t the right approach. We need to ban the platforms if they don’t keep children safe.

“Tech giants have repeatedly failed to either embed safeguarding, or take responsibility for the abuse happening on their lucrative platforms.

“I strongly believe that the Government should act to address this clearly evidenced risk, and they should act now.”

This comes after Labour MP Jess Phillips resigned as safeguarding minister at the Home Office earlier this year, accusing Sir Keir of being slow to threaten legislation on preventing children taking naked images of themselves, despite the technology being available.

She said: “My reaction is one of relief that this has happened.

“I look forward to working with the Government on what the legislation needs to be to make sure that no child can ever be tricked in to taking naked images of themselves for the use of global paedophile networks.”

Ms Champion’s view was echoed by the children’s safety charity the 5Rights Foundation.

Head of UK affairs Colette Collins-Walsh said: “Anything that makes digital services safer for children is welcome, but we need to move away from policing kids and start policing the harmful systems of tech companies which prioritise engagement and profit over children’s safety.

“If the Government is serious about making the online world safer for children, their focus should be on enforcing mandatory, comprehensive and systematic change that will detoxify the environments where kids spend time – just as we would offline.

“We must tackle the tech business model which is driving unacceptable harm.”

In a speech at London Tech Week, the Prime Minister said: “I am calling on tech companies operating in this country to introduce device controls that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images.

“Because this is not an impossible challenge. These are some of the most innovative companies in the world and I believe they can solve it.”

Home Office officials said they are already working on draft legislation, but would not say how long it might take to become law.

Sir Keir is expected to go further in the coming days with widespread expectation that he will announce a ban on children under-16 being able to access harmful social media sites.

Multiple reports have suggested he will take the step before the Makerfield by-election on June 18 which could see potential leadership challenger Andy Burnham return to Parliament.

Officials said Apple was already taking action with age checks for iPhone users, making it the first company to activate safety features by default for under-18s.

A Google spokesperson said: “Google is deeply committed to protecting children online.

“We are working constructively with UK partners to find effective, privacy-preserving solutions that deter the spread of harmful content while ensuring a safe digital environment for young people.”