UK and Canada to legislate strict child online safety rules

The governments of the United Kingdom and Canada are moving to implement some of the world's most stringent online safety measures for children, focusing on age restrictions and device-level content controls. These parallel initiatives, expected to be detailed in legislation this summer, follow the model pioneered by Australia last year but have already sparked significant debate over privacy and effectiveness.

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a three-month ultimatum to major technology companies, including Apple and Google. He demanded on Monday that they implement technical solutions on smartphones and tablets sold or used in the UK to prevent children from taking, sharing, or viewing nude images. The government stated that adults would retain access to such content after verifying their age. Officials warned that if companies do not comply by September, they will introduce legislation mandating the protections, with potential consequences including fines and criminal liability for senior managers.

This device-scanning proposal is part of a broader crackdown expected to be announced imminently, which is also anticipated to include a ban on social media access...