UK To Ask Apple And Google To Block Explicit Images Unless Age Is Verified, Report Reveals

The UK government is pushing for tech giants such as Apple and Google to prevent users from accessing or sharing nude images on smartphones unless their age has been verified. The Financial Times, cited by 9to5Mac, reported that ministers are urging both iOS and Android makers to incorporate these safeguards.

Age Verification Is Back In Focus

Age verification has become a pressing issue for tech companies. Meta, for instance, has been lobbying regulators to place more responsibility on operating system developers. The UK government’s latest plan targets the operating system level rather than individual apps, signalling a major shift in how online safety is approached.

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What The Proposal Asks For

According to the Financial Times, ministers “want the likes of Apple and Google to incorporate nudity-detection algorithms into their device operating systems to prevent users from taking photos or sharing images of genitalia unless they are verified as adults.”

The report adds, “[Additionally,] the Home Office wants to see operating systems that prevent any nudity being displayed on screen unless the user has verified they are an adult through methods such as biometric checks or official ID.”

For now, the government is encouraging rather than mandating these measures. MacRumors notes that UK officials are not requiring devices sold in Britain to implement these controls at this stage.

Mobile Devices First, Desktops Later

The proposals are expected to focus initially on mobile phones, though desktop operating systems could be targeted in the future. Officials reportedly considered making nudity-blocking mandatory for all devices sold in the UK but have decided against this approach for the time being.

Apple And Google’s Current Measures

Apple offers Communication Safety tools that parents can activate, which detect nude photos and videos in apps like Messages, AirDrop, and FaceTime. However, teenagers can still view flagged images after dismissing an alert, while children under 13 must enter a passcode.

Google also provides parental controls through its Family Link feature and includes “sensitive content warnings” in Google Messages. Neither company currently offers system-wide nudity blocking across third-party apps such as WhatsApp.

Privacy Concerns And Potential Loopholes

The proposals are expected to face scrutiny from privacy and civil liberties groups, as well as questions about their effectiveness. The Financial Times reported that when the UK rolled out age-verification requirements for adult websites under the Online Safety Act, the restrictions were quickly tested, with many users turning to VPNs and other technical workarounds to bypass the checks.

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What Comes Next

People familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that the UK government plans to officially unveil these proposals in the coming days. How Apple and Google will respond, and whether such measures will be widely adopted, remains uncertain.