Technology
Cross-party UK alliance proposes mandatory CSAM blocking software for smartphones
Hacker News reports that a cross-party group of peers and MPs wants all phones and tablets sold in Britain to block child sexual abuse material; the plan remains a proposal.
The short version
- A cross-party alliance of peers and MPs plans to put proposals to parliament requiring blocking software on phones and tablets sold in Britain.[Hacker News]
- The campaign is led in the Lords by Conservative peer John Nash and in the Commons by Labour former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips.[Hacker News]
- Supporters point to more than 312,000 abuse images removed by the Internet Watch Foundation last year and 3,440 AI-generated abuse videos found.[Hacker News]
- Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said in September that tech companies had failed to protect children, but the proposals are not yet law.[Hacker News]
Key facts
- Proposals would require all smartphones and tablets sold in Britain to have software installed to block viewing or creating child sexual abuse material.[Hacker News]
- John Nash, a Conservative peer, leads the campaign in the House of Lords, and Jess Phillips, a Labour former safeguarding minister, leads it in the House of Commons.[Hacker News]
- The Internet Watch Foundation removed more than 312,000 online child sexual abuse images last year, a 7% increase on 2024.[Hacker News]
- Analysts found 3,440 AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse last year, compared with 13 in 2024.[Hacker News]
- A poll reported by The Observer found 80% support installing blocking technology on their smartphone or tablet, with 5% opposed.[Hacker News]
- Simon Bailey, a former Norfolk chief constable, insisted tougher regulation is needed and said the technology can identify abuse material with a degree of confidence.[Hacker News]
What remains uncertain
- It is unknown whether the proposals will be enacted; the reporting describes them only as proposals to be put to parliament.[Hacker News]
- Whether the software can reliably identify abuse material is disputed; Phillips and Bailey assert it exists, but no independent verification is reported.[Hacker News]
- The poll figures rest on a short description of the blocking technology, and the reporting gives no further methodology.[Hacker News]
- Hacker News is the only outlet reporting this event, so the account has not been independently corroborated.[Hacker News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.