London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled plans for stricter controls on online platforms, targeting harmful chatbot content and signalling support for tighter limits on children’s access to social media.
The Prime Minister said that the government would move against illegal and exploitative material generated through automated online systems and seek broader powers to respond more quickly to emerging digital risks.
“Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up,” Starmer said, adding that the measures are aimed at protecting children and helping parents navigate online platforms more safely.
Faster Powers, Stricter Oversight
The government intends to introduce amendments to existing crime and child-protection legislation currently before Parliament. The proposed changes would require chatbot providers to comply fully with digital safety laws, including prohibitions on creating intimate images without consent.
The announcement follows controversy surrounding explicit content produced through the Grok chatbot on X, owned by Elon Musk.
Officials said they want the authority to implement future safeguards within months of a public consultation rather than wait for lengthy primary legislation each time technology evolves. Critics, however, warn that broader executive powers could reduce parliamentary scrutiny of future restrictions.
No social media platform should get a free pass when it comes to protecting our kids.
That’s why I’m taking action.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 15, 2026
Social Media Ban Under Review
A public consultation launching in March will examine whether children under 16 should be barred from social media platforms. It will also consider restricting the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) by minors to bypass age controls and access adult content.
The debate mirrors steps taken abroad. Australia became the first nation to prohibit under-16s from using platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. Under Australian law, companies face heavy fines if they fail to remove accounts belonging to underage users.
In France, lawmakers are debating similar restrictions for children under 15, with proposals backed by President Emmanuel Macron already approved by the National Assembly and awaiting Senate review.
Privacy and Access Concerns
In Britain, the proposed age limits have drawn support from both Starmer’s Labour Party and the opposition Conservatives. Yet digital rights groups caution that tighter controls could affect adults’ privacy and freedom to access lawful content.
Some websites have already responded to stricter age-verification rules by blocking UK users altogether rather than implementing new systems. Others warn that determined users can easily sidestep geographic restrictions through widely available VPN services.
The coming months are likely to shape the UK’s approach to balancing child protection with digital freedoms, as ministers seek to strengthen safeguards without overreaching into wider online access.
