19.02.2026 18:13
The UK government has announced plans for a legislative change that will require the removal of non-consensual intimate images shared on social media within 48 hours to protect women and girls. Technology platforms that do not comply with the legal requirements will face heavy fines.
The UK government has announced plans for a legislative change that will require technology platforms to remove "intimate" images shared without a person's consent within 48 hours to protect women and girls.
In a written statement from the government, it was reported that platforms that do not comply with the new legislative change aimed at protecting women and girls could face administrative fines of up to 10% of their company revenue or sanctions that could block their services in the country.
TO BE REMOVED WITHIN 48 HOURS
The statement indicated that under the planned change, technology companies would be obligated to delete intimate images shared without a person's consent within 48 hours after a request for removal.
The statement conveyed that the government wanted to ensure that victims only need to report the images they want removed once, stating, "This means that when an image is reported, it will be removed from multiple platforms at once and will be automatically deleted with every new upload thereafter."
A GUIDELINE WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED
The statement noted that the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which regulates digital publications, radio, television, and print media in the UK, is evaluating plans to address "intimate" images shared without a person's consent with the same seriousness as images related to child sexual exploitation and terrorism, and to ensure they are automatically removed when attempts are made to republish them.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that a guideline would be published to assist internet providers on how to block access to sites hosting such images.
UK PRIME MINISTER: WE ARE DETERMINED
The statement emphasized that the use of intimate images to threaten, intimidate, and cause distress in recent years is "concerning," and it was noted that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is determined to end victims' fears that "even if an image is removed, it will be republished elsewhere."
Starmer, whose views were included in the statement, remarked that the online world is "the frontline in the fight against violence towards women and girls in the 21st century," adding, "Therefore, my government is taking urgent action against chatbots and de-anonymization tools."
UK Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall also pointed out that the internet should be a place where women and girls can feel safe, stating, "No woman should have to wait for days across platforms for a photo to be removed."