LONDON, Feb 18 (GeokHub) — The British government will require major technology platforms to remove intimate images shared without consent within 48 hours of being reported, or face fines of up to 10% of their eligible global revenue — and potentially have their services blocked in the United Kingdom.
The move forms part of a broader effort to strengthen protections for women and girls amid rising concerns over online abuse and the misuse of artificial intelligence tools to generate explicit content.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the online sphere as “the frontline of the 21st century battle against violence against women and girls,” underscoring the urgency of stronger digital safeguards.
Under amendments to legislation currently passing through Parliament, major online platforms will have a clear legal duty to take down nonconsensual intimate images within two days of a report.
Although sharing such material is already illegal in Britain, victims have reported difficulties in securing permanent removal across platforms. The new rule aims to streamline enforcement by requiring companies to act swiftly and prevent re-uploads of the same content.
Victims will only need to report the material once, with platforms obligated to remove identical copies across their services.
Ofcom’s Expanding Powers
Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, will oversee enforcement of the new rules. Fines could be calculated based on a platform’s “Qualifying Worldwide Revenue,” a metric that covers income generated globally from regulated services.
Ofcom is also considering classifying the sharing of illegal intimate images with similar severity as child sexual abuse material and terrorist content. In a separate statement, the regulator said it would fast-track a decision on requiring platforms to deploy “hash-matching” technology to block such content at the source. A final ruling is expected in May, with potential implementation by summer.
Wider Online Safety Debate
The policy announcement comes amid a broader national debate over online safety, including whether to restrict social media access for users under 16 — echoing similar measures introduced in Australia.
The government argues that faster removal timelines and stronger enforcement tools are necessary as digital platforms increasingly shape social interaction and as AI technologies make it easier to manipulate or fabricate explicit imagery.
