Can Apple and Google stop children from sharing explicit images?

June 8, 2026 - 21:41

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a direct warning to major technology companies, including Apple and Google, demanding they voluntarily introduce tools to prevent children from sharing explicit images. The call comes as part of a broader government push to tackle online child safety, but cybersecurity and privacy experts caution that the request is far more complex than it sounds.

Starmer emphasized that tech firms have a moral responsibility to act, even before new regulations take full effect. However, the technical challenge is steep. Apple has previously faced backlash for proposing a system to scan iCloud photos for child abuse material, with critics arguing it could undermine user privacy and create a backdoor for surveillance. Google, meanwhile, already uses AI to detect known illegal content, but distinguishing between a harmless photo and an explicit image shared by a minor remains difficult.

Experts point out that children often share such images through encrypted apps like WhatsApp or Signal, where end-to-end encryption prevents anyone, including the platform, from seeing the content. Forcing companies to break encryption would require a major policy shift and could weaken security for all users. false positives could lead to innocent children being flagged, causing distress and legal complications.

The UK government has been pushing the Online Safety Bill, which aims to hold tech companies accountable for harmful content. But Starmer's latest warning suggests he wants faster action. For now, the debate continues: how to protect children without sacrificing privacy or breaking the very tools that keep everyone safe online.