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Online Safety
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Lisa Nandy
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EconomyScience & TechnologyParliamentary Procedure
Other Contributors: 37
At a Glance
Lisa Nandy raised concerns about online safety in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Lisa Nandy, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, announced the Government's intentions to introduce primary legislation to require major tech platforms to build in device-level protections for children. She highlighted the collaboration with Apple and Google, who have developed changes to make it harder for children to share nude imagery. However, she acknowledged that the progress is not sufficient and announced the commitment to introduce legislation to Parliament as soon as possible. The measures aim to prevent children from accessing or sharing nudity in apps and make Britain the first country to take such steps. Nandy emphasised the Government's role in shaping technology for good and ensuring that technology companies take responsibility for children's safety online.
Salford and Eccles
Question
Will the Government provide support for families to update their devices to include these protections, particularly for families on lower incomes?
Minister reply
The Government is committed to ensuring that all families can benefit from these protections. We will work with technology companies to explore ways to ensure that existing devices can be updated to include these measures, particularly for families on lower incomes.
Ruth Cadbury
Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Question
How will the Government ensure that these protections are implemented effectively and monitored regularly?
Minister reply
The Government will work closely with technology companies to ensure that these protections are implemented effectively and will monitor their implementation regularly. We will also engage with stakeholders, including parents and children, to ensure that the measures are having the intended impact.
Sarah Wollaston
Con
Totnes
Question
What measures will the Government take to ensure that children are educated about online safety and the risks associated with sharing nude images?
Minister reply
The Government is committed to educating children about online safety. We will work with schools and educational institutions to ensure that children are taught about the risks associated with sharing nude images and how to protect themselves online.
Salford and Eccles
Question
The MP welcomed the statement but raised several questions about the timeline, details of the Government's plans, the criteria for determining if tech companies have made sufficient progress, and the scope of the devices to which the protections would apply. She also sought clarification on the Minister's statement about shaping technology for good use and the status of social media restrictions for under-16s.
Minister reply
The Minister thanked the MP for her engagement and provided answers to her questions. She assured that legislation would be pursued without delay, although a firm timetable was not possible due to the pioneering nature of the work. She mentioned that legislation would likely be necessary if tech companies did not move quickly to meet their obligations. The Minister clarified that protections would apply to phones and tablets, with exploration of extending to other devices. She defined shaping technology for good use as ensuring that all people, including children, can access trusted information and live empowered lives. She confirmed the intention to stick to the timetable for the social media ban and promised to go further than initially proposed.
Liz Kendall
Lab
Leicester West
Question
The MP expressed her pride in the Government's commitment to device-level protections and welcomed the confirmation of the timetable for social media restrictions. She asked for more details on the timetable for other proposals, such as AI chatbots, overnight curfews, and bans on doomscrolling for older children.
Minister reply
The Minister paid tribute to Liz Kendall for her support and confirmed that she would provide a firm timetable for the measures mentioned. She pledged to move quickly on the comprehensive package of measures, aiming for significant progress by the end of the year and a robust package by the following year.
Anna Sabine
Liberal Democrat MP for Frome and East Somerset
Question
Asked for reassurance that legislation will be ploughing forward regardless of tech companies' actions, and raised concerns about privacy while implementing protection measures.
Minister reply
Confirmed that legislation will be developed regardless of companies' actions and that privacy concerns will be addressed. The minister highlighted the challenge of end-to-end encrypted services and the need for cross-party discussions.
Jess Phillips
Labour MP for Birmingham, Yardley
Question
Emphasised the importance of the 'take' element in preventing children from taking images in the first place, and urged the Secretary of State to work with international partners to address this issue.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of addressing the 'take' element and the need to work with international partners to address this global issue.
Caroline Dinenage
Conservative MP for Gosport
Question
Asked about how compliance with the policy will be monitored and what sanctions will be available for non-compliance.
Minister reply
Promised to work with the House to develop enforcement measures, including addressing the making and selling of devices that do not have technology to prevent children from taking and sharing nude images, and ensuring compliance with the policy.
Natasha Irons
Labour MP
Question
Asked for assurance that the Government will continue to press companies to act with urgency and moral leadership while legislation is being developed.
Minister reply
Emphasised the moral responsibility of companies to act swiftly and promised to continue pressing companies to act with urgency.
Jeremy Wright
Conservative MP for Kenilworth and Southam
Question
Asked about the compatibility of individual measures with the responsibilities of companies under the Online Safety Act and requested a meeting to discuss this in detail.
Minister reply
Agreed to meet with the MP to discuss the compatibility of measures with the responsibilities of companies under the Online Safety Act.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Poplar
Question
Children are being exposed daily to horrific, violent content online. Ofcom’s own research shows that nearly a quarter of 11 to 17-year-olds have seen violent content in just four weeks, and nearly three quarters have seen harmful content of some kind. What more can the Government do to deal with this immediately?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right. The Government are looking at the issue of chatbots and strengthening the law to ensure that we protect children better from all these different forms of exposure.
Vikki Slade
Con
Blackpool South
Question
What more can the Government do to hold tech companies to account and take down posts that put the safety of children and adults at risk through doxxing?
Minister reply
I have had an initial discussion about this with some of the tech companies. The Government are concerned about this, and I look forward to working with the hon. Lady to see what more we can do.
Chris Kane
Lab
Bolton West
Question
May I place on record my heartfelt appreciation of the dignified leadership that the parents and family of my constituent Murray Dowey have shown on this issue? Will the Secretary of State say more about the ongoing conversations that she will have with tech companies while the primary legislative clock is ticking?
Minister reply
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s constituents and thank him for being an outstanding advocate for them. He will have heard what I said about ongoing discussions with tech companies. We ought to be moving quickly on this, and it ought not to require primary legislation.
Ashley Fox
Worcestershire
Conservative
Question
How will the Secretary of State ensure that children using devices with older operating systems are fully protected?
Minister reply
We have been discussing that as a Department, and it is something that officials are currently exploring. Even if a child has an older device, the protections that we are bringing in around the sharing of nude images will take effect immediately.
Alex McIntyre
Con
Newark
Question
Given the financial resources that the tech companies have, will the Secretary of State reassure the House that she will not accept any argument that it is too expensive or too difficult to stop children being able to take nude images and send them to people?
Minister reply
I strongly support that; frankly, there is no excuse. My hon. Friend mentions the anxiety that many families feel. This particular form of abuse is happening in families’ homes. I am really committed to looking at the issue seriously.
Kirsty Blackman
SNP
Aberdeen North
Question
Would the Secretary of State like to see children’s accounts banned from livestreaming, regardless of whether it involves nude images?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Lady for being such a long-standing campaigner on this issue. I am sorry that it took many Secretaries of State before we were able to announce this. I am really committed to looking at the issue seriously.
Tom Collins
Con
West Suffolk
Question
Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss a product safety approach?
Minister reply
I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend. We have talked a lot about the tech companies in relation to this, and it is right to do so because there are obligations that must be met.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
How does the highly efficient age assurance system actually work?
Minister reply
We are not envisaging imposing penalties on parents. However, the right hon. Member is right that, as we are already anticipating, with any system we introduce there will be people who find ways to get around the safeguards we put in place. Companies are already rolling this out, including through iOS 26.
Question
The MP commends the Minister for her decision to leave Elon Musk's X platform and asks if she will advocate for alternative social media options that do not follow Musk's rules.
Minister reply
The Minister responds that it is a personal decision and while she respects others' choices, she personally does not want to encourage more people to use X due to its harmful nature.
Question
The MP welcomes the Secretary of State's announcements and asks for clarity on AI companions, especially regarding the definition and enforcement of a ban on sexualised AI chatbots for under-18s.
Minister reply
The Minister states that the issue is complex but urgent and that recent developments show the need to strengthen the approach. She is working to ensure better protection for children and is open to further discussion on the matter.
Question
The MP urges the Secretary of State to push tech companies to implement safety measures quickly and pledges support for legislative action if companies do not act.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees to move as fast as possible to resolve the issue, supporting the call for tech companies to take immediate action.
Question
The MP raises concerns about sexualised images in children's games and in-game advertisements, asking if the new announcement will address these issues.
Minister reply
The Minister commits to looking at the issue and taking appropriate action to protect children from such images.
Question
The MP questions the need to ask tech companies to implement safety measures, suggesting that legislation should be the default approach.
Minister reply
The Minister supports the idea that the online world should not be distinct from the offline world in terms of protections and expectations for child safety.
Question
The MP highlights the issue of child abuse perpetrators and the need for support for schools and families to prevent children from becoming victims or perpetrators.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the importance of the issue and intends to enhance support through the national youth strategy, emphasising the need for trusted adults to help children navigate the online space.
Question
The MP asks for a meeting to discuss tragedy trolling and the importance of protecting victims of suspicious circumstances from misinformation and disinformation.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees to meet with the MP and officials to discuss the issue and highlights the importance of trusted news sources online.
Question
The MP raises concerns about the robustness of social media complaints procedures, citing an example of harassment on TikTok and a hacked X account of a city council leader.
Minister reply
The Minister expresses willingness to pick up the example directly with social media companies.
Question
The MP asks about government actions to address misinformation and disinformation from hostile states.
Minister reply
The Minister outlines measures including developing gov.uk, supporting local news outlets, and the upcoming BBC charter review to address misinformation and disinformation.
Question
The MP urges the Secretary of State to look at hardware-level protections for mobile devices and asks if the Government will pursue robust enforcement against tech companies.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the importance of enforcement and commits to taking it seriously.
Question
As the youngest parent in this place, I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s leadership and that of our Prime Minister. Will she look at AI-enabled smart glasses, which could be filming our children, and the content from them that is being put online? Will she also look at loopholes in VPN usage—in particular, with app-based browsers—as she looks to progress the measures?
Minister reply
I have already discussed issues around VPNs with officials; device-level controls are one part of the answer but not the whole answer, so my hon. Friend is right to raise the issue. I will take up the issue of smart glasses as well.
Question
When I speak to parents in Bracknell Forest, they tell me of their anxiety about what their young people might be exposed to online and their feeling of powerlessness—they do not feel that they have the tools to do anything about it. Today’s statement makes it clear that this Government believe that the power to act lies squarely with the tech companies, and that they should get on and fix their platforms so that our young people can be safe.
Minister reply
I support my hon. Friend in saying that it is the responsibility of all of us to keep children safe, and we would like to see the tech companies do more—and more quickly. Today’s statement also shows that the Government can do things to improve people’s lives. We are not powerless; we were elected to do that, and we intend to fulfil that promise.
Question
I welcome the announcement from the Secretary of State, but the focus is too often on what young people are doing, rather than on the adults who are grooming and coercing them. Can the Secretary of State say more about the work that her Department and others are doing with tech companies to identify and disrupt adults who are targeting children and pressurising them to put images online?
Minister reply
I saw my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips) nodding vigorously at that point. My hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth North (Amanda Martin) is absolutely right, and I am working closely with the Home Secretary to ensure that we come at the issue from every angle and hold to account all who are responsible.
Question
I strongly welcome the statement from the Secretary of State. It is long overdue and builds on great work by her predecessors. Unfortunately, we do not have full sovereign capability in developing our own tech in this country, and we are vulnerable to politics in other countries. Will the Secretary of State tell me what she is doing to work with people across Government to ensure that if there is pushback against these changes, particularly in the United States, and challenges from the tech companies, Britain will get what it wants—not what some people in certain other countries want?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises two linked and important points. First, we are the Government of the United Kingdom and are responsible to the people of this country. Although we have close friends and allies all over the world, we reserve the right to take our own view on technology. Particularly when it comes to keeping children safe, that is non-negotiable. Secondly, we have to be on the front foot in developing new forms of technology. I believe that tech, the online space and AI should be—and can be—a force for good in the world, but in order to help create that and be leaders in the field, we have to be on the front foot in developing forms of technology and having sovereign capability. I can reassure my hon. Friend on that point because I discussed it, this very morning, with the Business Secretary and the AI Minister.
Question
I thank and commend the Secretary of State for the Government’s world-leading action. Does she agree that at some point in the future, we are going to look back and wonder how we let the tech companies get away with hijacking our children’s attention and safety for so long? She talks about closing loopholes, but will she say more about what is happening across Government and with the regulators—as well as internationally—to ensure that those who produce the devices and what goes on them all play their part in keeping our children safe?
Minister reply
I think we have been living through a revolution in the way we interact with one another and with Government, compared with when I was growing up. I am going to sound incredibly old now, but I think I was 17 before I got my first email address, and Google was not a thing at that point—it was Ask Jeeves, if anyone remembers that. We have been living through this revolution for quite some time, and it is about time that Governments caught up. We have to ensure that we are on the front foot, helping to shape the society we want to have, not just allowing that to be relegated to the private sphere. My hon. Friend talks about the global consensus, and I think there is a global consensus forming on this. We are seeing more and more that states are prepared to step up and be on the front foot and taking action. We are working closely with our friends and allies around the world, trying to move in step so that this can be as effective as possible.
Question
This is a really tremendous statement—I welcome it, and congratulate and thank my right hon. Friend for it. We have touched on the tech companies. Sadly, we can expect them to push back, and they may get support on the other side of the Atlantic. I encourage my right hon. Friend to work closely with our friends in the European Union who have similar aims to protect their children to give ourselves as much clout and oomph in the negotiations ahead.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. As a rule, I think this Government have taken that approach; we want to have a much closer relationship with our closest friends and neighbours across Europe and to repair some of the needless damage that was done to that relationship under previous Governments. When it comes to tech and what happens online, it is absolutely essential that we work with other like-minded countries in order to move in step, so I can certainly reassure him on that point.
Question
I welcome the Secretary of State’s statement. Unfortunately, young people and their parents in my constituency do not believe that the big tech companies are taking their responsibilities seriously. I speak to young people in schools across Harlow who are concerned that it is very easy to flout the age verification rules. In much the same way as it is a shop’s responsibility to ensure that no one under the age of 18 buys alcohol, can we make it very clear to the big tech companies that it is their responsibility to ensure that underage people cannot use their software and sites?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for that point. I think the views of his constituents in Harlow are probably mirrored in every constituency across the country. I want to be really clear about our message today to parents who have been struggling with this matter for so long: you are not on your own. We believe that we are as responsible for keeping their children safe as they are, and we are stepping up to take the necessary action, whether that is through support, advice and training for parents and children, or through the reforms and measures that I have outlined today—we are the first country in the world to do so, and I strongly suspect that we will not be the last.
Question
Democracies face a choice between allowing the online world to be a wild west or stepping in, so I really welcome this Government’s decision to regulate the tech titans that have been putting profit before protection. I have families in my constituency who have been deeply affected by traumas online that have repeated what has been experienced in the real world, and they would really welcome the chance to meet the Secretary of State at the Department. Would she meet them with me so that they can share their experiences and help to shape the legislation as it goes forward?
Minister reply
Yes, of course; it would be a privilege to meet them. I have had the honour of getting to know some of these families—both bereaved families and families of survivors whose children have been harmed because of the lack of action in this space—and I gave them a commitment that I will do everything in my power to stop another family having to experience what they have gone through. I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend and his constituents.
Shadow Comment
Rebecca Paul
Shadow Comment
Rebecca Paul welcomed the Government's focus on device-level protections but called for more detail on the execution and timetable for the legislation. She asked for clarity on what would constitute sufficient progress and who would make that judgment. Paul also inquired about the aim for these planned protections to apply to new and existing devices, the scale of the problem for older devices, and the status of the social media restrictions for under-16s. She expressed a willingness to work constructively across the House with the Secretary of State towards these goals.
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