Keir Starmer has pledged to move faster to close legal loopholes designed to protect children online, warning that artificial intelligence and social media platforms will no longer be allowed to evade accountability under outdated laws.
The prime minister said the government had already “won” a confrontation with X after threatening enforcement action when its AI assistant Grok generated non-consensual sexual deepfake images. He said similar action would now be extended to “all AI bots”, as ministers prepare new legislation to strengthen children’s online safety.
Starmer said no platform would be given a “free pass” and promised a crackdown on what he described as the addictive features of social media that keep children glued to screens for hours.
Expanding the Online Safety Act to Cover AI Chatbots
Central to the government’s plans is the extension of the Online Safety Act to explicitly include AI chatbots, which were not in widespread use when the legislation was drafted and passed in 2023. Ministers argue that this gap has allowed chatbot developers to avoid responsibility for harmful or illegal content generated by their systems.
The government also intends to speed up the way technology legislation is passed, arguing that traditional parliamentary timelines are no longer fit for purpose in an era of rapid digital change.
Liz Kendall said the government must be able to act quickly once consultations conclude, noting that online safety reforms have taken years in the past while technology has evolved at pace.
New Powers to Preserve Children’s Online Data After Death
One of the most significant proposals would require coroners to notify Ofcom of the death of any child aged five to 18. This would trigger an obligation on technology companies to preserve all relevant data from the child’s devices, preventing automatic deletion that could hinder investigations.
The change follows sustained campaigning by bereaved families who say vital information is often lost before police or coroners can formally request it. Under current rules, data must usually be requested within 12 months, by which time platforms may already have erased records.
Under the proposed changes, data would need to be preserved within five days if it could be relevant to the cause of death.
Social Media Restrictions and Age Verification Under Review
The government has confirmed it will launch a public consultation on children’s use of social media, including whether to restrict access to AI chatbots, curb infinite scrolling features known as “doomscrolling”, and prevent children from using VPNs to bypass age-verification checks.
Ministers say they want new legal powers that would allow immediate action once the consultation ends, rather than waiting years for further legislation.
Writing on Substack, Starmer said social media had evolved into something that was “quietly harming our children” and vowed to challenge autoplay, endless scrolling, and age-limit circumvention. He added that confrontation with large technology firms was inevitable and necessary.
Pressure From Campaigners and Political Opponents
The proposals have been welcomed by children’s safety campaigners but criticised by opposition figures who accuse the government of moving too slowly.
The Molly Rose Foundation said the plans were a “welcome down payment” but urged the prime minister to commit to a strengthened Online Safety Act that clearly places children’s wellbeing at the centre of regulation.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat figures have accused the government of delay, calling for an immediate ban on under-16s accessing the most harmful platforms and demanding a firm parliamentary vote rather than further consultation.
Growing Concern Over AI and Child Safety
Concerns over children’s exposure to harmful online content have intensified following multiple high-profile cases involving social media algorithms, online challenges, and AI-generated material. Campaigners warn that AI chatbots are increasingly being used by young people for emotional support, education, and companionship, often without adequate safeguards.
Ministers say the new measures aim not only to preserve evidence after tragedies occur but to prevent harm before it happens, as part of a broader effort to modernise online safety regulation in the UK.