UK to force social media to remove abusive pics in 48 hours
Source: Hacker News
Overview
The UK is classifying “intimate images shared without a victim’s consent” alongside terror‑related and child sexual abuse material, requiring online platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of being flagged.
New Amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill
- Platforms must remove the content no more than 48 hours after it is flagged.
- Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 10 % of qualifying worldwide income or the blocking of the service in the UK.
- Victims will only need to report an abusive image once, rather than contacting multiple platforms or constantly monitoring for re‑uploads.
The government indicated that Ofcom is considering treating these images with the same severity as child sexual abuse and terrorism content, including digital marking so that any attempt to repost them triggers automatic removal.
Creating or sharing non‑consensual intimate images will become a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, carrying the same seriousness as child abuse or terrorism. Guidance will be published for internet providers on how to block access to sites hosting such content, targeting rogue websites outside the reach of the Online Safety Act.
Reactions
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:
“The days of tech firms having a free pass are over. Because of the action we are taking, platforms must now find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours.”
Lawyer Hanna Basha, Dispute Resolution Partner at Payne Hicks Beach, welcomed the move but questioned the timeframe:
“Why 48 hours and not 24 or even 12? Every hour these images remain online compounds the harm.”
She also called for platforms to display clear contact details for reporting abusive content, emphasizing the need for faster takedowns and real accountability.
References
- EU looking into Elon Musk’s X after Grok produces deepfake sex images
- Ofcom keeps X under the microscope despite Grok ‘nudify’ fix
- Charities warn Ofcom too soft on Online Safety Act violators
- Trump signs TAKE IT DOWN law meant to stop revenge porn
- Grok scandal: Elon Musk‑owned chatbot’s willingness to generate nude or sexualised images
- Georgia Harrison revenge‑porn case (BBC)