UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a stern directive aimed at combatting revenge porn, demanding that social media companies eliminate explicit non-consensual content from their platforms within 48 hours. Describing such intimate images as “utterly abhorrent,” Starmer warned that failure to comply could lead to significant penalties or a complete ban on these platforms in the UK. This announcement was made in an interview with The Guardian, highlighting the government’s commitment to eradicating online abuse.
Starmer’s initiative follows the emergence of the AI tool Grok, which was reportedly used to generate disturbing images without consent. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he emphasized the urgency of taking action: “Today, we are going further. We are putting social media companies on notice to take down any non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours.” While recognizing that this is merely an initial step, Starmer reinforced the idea that violence against women and girls will not be tolerated in society.
Consequences for non-compliance could be severe, as reported by The Guardian. Social media companies that fail to remove non-consensual images after victims file reports may face fines that could reach millions or potentially be barred from operating in the UK altogether. Starmer highlighted that companies must be held accountable for the continued dissemination of harmful content, even after receiving formal notice from affected parties.
To extend their regulatory reach, Starmer announced plans to amend the crime and policing bill to encompass AI chatbots, specifically targeting tools like Grok, which have faced backlash for their role in generating explicit images without consent. He stated, “The burden of tackling abuse must no longer fall on victims. It must fall on perpetrators and on the companies that enable harm.” This call for accountability resonates beyond UK borders, as Grok AI has faced legal scrutiny in countries like Ireland, India, and Malaysia.
Victims of revenge porn will have avenues for reporting these violations either directly to tech companies or through the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as outlined by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The mechanism aims to streamline the reporting process, allowing alerts to be sent across multiple platforms to expedite the removal of harmful images. Ofcom, as the independent regulator for the UK’s communications sector, will be tasked with enforcing the ban, thereby alleviating victims from the burden of repeated reporting of the same content.
With these measures, the UK government is signaling a zero-tolerance approach toward online abuse and a commitment to protecting individuals from the horrors of revenge porn. As Starmer aptly put it, the onus must shift away from victims, ensuring that those who perpetrate such acts face appropriate consequences and that companies are held responsible for enabling these violations.
As concerns continue to grow over digital safety, the government’s initiatives may serve as a crucial step toward fostering a more secure online environment for all.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/uk-cracks-down-on-revenge-porn-keir-starmer-sets-48-hour-deadline-for-social-media-11771491424265.html
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Publish Date: 2026-02-19 15:34:00
