UK forces tech firms to block cyberflashing as Online Safety Act makes it a priority offence

Tech firms must block unsolicited nude images under new UK rules

LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Technology companies in Britain will be required to block unsolicited sexual images under online safety rules taking effect on Thursday, as governments worldwide step up efforts to curb abuse and risks linked to artificial intelligence. Cyberflashing has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since January 2024, with perpetrators facing up to two years in prison. It has now become a priority offence under Britain's Online Safety Act, which sets tough requirements on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X, as well as dating apps and sites hosting pornography. "Platforms are now required by law to detect and prevent this material," Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said in a statement. "The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive," she added, as a September poll showed that one in three teenage girls had received unsolicited sexual images. Britain's media regulator Ofcom will consult on the measures platforms must take, the government said. GLOBAL OUTCRY OVER DEEPFAKES ON X France has launched an investigation into Elon Musk's social media site X over sexually explicit 'deepfake' images generated via its chatbot Grok, calling the content "manifestly illegal." On Tuesday, the European Commission said it was "very seriously" examining Grok's "spicy mode," warning that it had no place in Europe. Britain's Kendall urged X to urgently address a surge of intimate deepfake images, calling the content "absolutely appalling". Ofcom on Monday said it had made contact with X to understand what steps it was taking to comply with UK legal duties. Indian authorities have also demanded explanations. X's Safety account said on Sunday it removes illegal content and suspends accounts involved, but Musk has shrugged off concerns online, posting laughing emojis in response to edited bikini images of public figures. Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, Editing by Paul Sandle Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

UK tightens law for tech firms to proactively block 'cyberflashing' - The Economic Times

Dating apps and social media platforms must now pro-actively block "cyberflashing", or unsolicited crude imagery, as the UK clamped down on such activity as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act from Thursday. Technology firms that fail to act face hefty fines of up to 10 per cent of their qualifying worldwide revenue and could even have their services blocked in the UK. Cyber platforms will be required to take proactive steps to prevent "vile content" from appearing in the first place and not just react after the "harm is done". "We've cracked down on perpetrators of this vile crime - now we're turning up the heat on tech firms," said UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. "Platforms are now required by law to detect and prevent this material. The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive," she said. Companies are expected to tackle sexually explicit images, for example, by using automated systems that pre-emptively detect and hide the image, implementing moderation tools or stricter content policies. Bumble was praised as the first dating app to explicitly moderate cyberflashing to protect its members from seeing unwanted pictures. The women-first dating app launched "Private Detector", an artificial intelligence (AI) powered feature that automatically detects and blurs nudity in images sent within chats. It then alerts the recipient, who can choose to view, block, or report the image. The AI model is carefully trained with vast datasets to avoid misclassification, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) notes. "Receiving unsolicited sexual images is a daily violation that disproportionately impacts women and undermines their sense of safety online," said Elymae Cedeno, vice-president at Bumble. "Strengthening the law to make cyberflashing a priority offence is an important step toward ensuring platforms proactively address this behaviour to better protect members," she said. The Office of Communications (OFCOM), the UK's industry watchdog, will now consult on new codes of practice to set out exactly what steps platforms must take to protect users from unsolicited sexual images. The government said the latest move builds on efforts to tackle online abuse and halve violence against women and girls. "For too long cyberflashing has been just another degrading abuse women and girls are expected to endure. We are changing this," said Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls. "By placing the responsibility on tech companies to block this vile content before users see it, we are preventing women and girls from being harmed in the first place. We will deploy the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls, both online and offline," she said. The DSIT referenced a recent YouGov survey in England to highlight that women and girls were "disproportionately targeted" by such activity, with one in three teenage girls having received unsolicited sexual images.

Unsolicited Nudes Now Priority Crime In UK: Tech Platforms Face Legal Obligation To Detect, Stop Sexual Images As AI Risks Grow - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

Britain is forcing technology companies to proactively block unsolicited sexual images, marking a major escalation in how governments hold platforms accountable for online abuse fueled by artificial intelligence. UK Online Safety Rules Take Effect Starting Thursday, technology companies operating in the U.K. must take active steps to detect and prevent the sharing of unsolicited sexual images, commonly known as cyberflashing, reported Reuters. The requirement falls under the country's Online Safety Act, which applies to major social media platforms such as Meta Platforms, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:META) Facebook, YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google, ByteDance's TikTok and Elon Musk's X, as well as dating apps and websites hosting adult content. Cyberflashing has been a criminal offense in England and Wales since January 2024, carrying penalties of up to two years in prison. The new rules elevate it to a priority offense, shifting greater responsibility onto platforms to stop harmful material before it reaches users. Platforms Now Legally Required To Prevent Abuse Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said companies are now legally obligated to detect and block the content, not simply respond after complaints are made. She emphasized the need to make online spaces safer for women and girls, citing survey data showing that one in three teenage girls has received unsolicited sexual images. Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, will consult on the technical measures platforms must implement and has the authority to enforce compliance. Global Scrutiny Over AI-Generated Deepfakes The crackdown comes amid rising concern over sexually explicit AI-generated images. France has opened an investigation into X over deepfake sexual content linked to its chatbot, Grok, calling the material illegal. The European Commission has also warned that Grok's "spicy mode" may violate EU rules. U.K. officials have urged X to urgently address a surge in intimate deepfake images, while regulators in India have also sought explanations from the platform. Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate that Meta carries a bearish outlook over the medium and long term, even as its short-term price trend remains intact -- see how the stock compares with its peers. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock GOOGLAlphabet Inc$322.36-%OverviewGOOGAlphabet Inc$322.95-%METAMeta Platforms Inc$649.27-%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs