The Internet Watch Foundation has called on the Prime Minister to step in over what it says are gaps in the Online Safety Act.
Online safety group urges Starmer to intervene over child sexual abuse imagery
Sir Keir Starmer must intervene and strengthen incoming online safety rules after a record amount of child sexual abuse material was found on the internet in 2024, a leading online safety organisation has said.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which proactively searches for and helps remove child sexual abuse imagery from the internet, has written to the Prime Minister warning that without his input, platforms will have a “blatant get-out clause” to evade compliance with parts of the Online Safety Act, which is due to begin coming into force this year.
The IWF said the wording of codes of practice within the Act allows firms to remove illegal content only when it is “technically feasible”, and warns that this will incentivise platforms to avoid finding ways to remove illegal content in order to evade compliance.
Online safety group urges Starmer to intervene over child sexual abuse imagery