UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks expanded powers to regulate online access, including potential social media bans for under-16s and tighter AI rules, raising privacy and free speech concerns.
 |
| The British government plans amendments to crime legislation to expand AI-related image bans and explore under-16 social media restrictions, sparking debate over oversight and civil liberties. Image: CH |
LONDON, UK — February 16, 2026:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking broader executive powers to regulate internet access, arguing that the speed of technological change demands faster government intervention to protect children from emerging digital risks.
The proposal would allow ministers to implement new online safety measures more quickly following official reviews, reducing the need for fresh primary legislation each time technology evolves. Downing Street says this flexibility is essential in an era defined by rapidly developing social media platforms, artificial intelligence tools and encrypted services. Critics, however, warn that the shift could weaken parliamentary scrutiny over future restrictions.
The government confirmed it will consult on introducing an Australian-style ban on social media use for children under 16. The idea mirrors steps taken or proposed elsewhere in Europe, including in Spain, Greece and Slovenia, signaling a growing appetite among policymakers for age-based digital access controls.
Supporters argue that such measures are necessary to combat online harms ranging from cyberbullying to exposure to explicit content and addictive algorithms. Yet enforcement remains a major challenge. Previous age-verification rules in the UK prompted some platforms to withdraw services rather than comply.
Image-hosting company Imgur blocked access for British users last year, replacing content with blank images after tighter verification standards were introduced. Several large pornography websites also suspended UK access, citing privacy and data security concerns linked to mandatory age checks.
The government also plans to broaden a ban on creating sexualised images without a subject’s consent, explicitly extending it to more AI chatbot systems. The move follows scrutiny of tools such as Grok, developed by Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence venture.
These measures will be introduced as amendments to existing crime and child-protection legislation currently before Parliament. Officials say this approach allows the government to respond swiftly without waiting years for standalone bills.
The rapid proliferation of generative AI tools has intensified concerns over deepfakes and non-consensual image manipulation. Lawmakers argue that existing legal frameworks must evolve to keep pace with technological capabilities that can spread harmful content globally within minutes.
While the stated aim is to shield children, civil liberties advocates caution that broad online controls often carry consequences for adult users’ privacy and access to services. Previous UK regulatory efforts have also led to tensions with the United States over free speech standards and the global reach of British digital rules.
Another complication is enforcement. Geographic restrictions can be bypassed using widely available virtual private networks (VPNs). The government said its consultation would examine whether age restrictions should also apply to VPN services—an idea likely to spark further debate about practicality and proportionality.
Starmer’s push reflects a broader recalibration of digital governance across Europe, where governments are increasingly prioritizing child safety over laissez-faire internet norms. Yet the UK’s approach—centralizing regulatory agility within the executive branch—raises deeper constitutional questions.
At stake is not only how Britain protects minors online, but how it balances speed, oversight and civil liberties in the digital age. Whether expanded powers will produce meaningful safeguards or unintended restrictions may determine the future shape of internet regulation in the United Kingdom and beyond.