Former minister calls for phone tech to block live-streamed child sex abuse
Summary
Former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips is urging the UK government to require devices to block child sexual abuse material from being filmed or viewed. The proposed software would use AI to identify known abuse images on the device; campaigners say it could prevent abuse while preserving privacy, though civil liberties group Big Brother Watch disputes that claim.Key Facts
- The UK National Crime Agency ranks the country as the world’s third-largest market for live-streamed child sexual abuse.
- Phillips called for on-device blocking on every device sold in Britain at a policy report launch in Parliament.
- The proposed software would identify known child abuse images and block them when someone tries to create or view them.
- Campaigners say the software would not log, store or transmit material and could work alongside encryption.
- Big Brother Watch disputes claims that device-level blocking protects privacy and encryption.
- The Internet Watch Foundation reported in 2025 that three-quarters of child sexual abuse material was not self-generated and was likely captured on adult devices.
- Child safety institute Childlight research cited in the article says 1.8 million men in the UK admitted to some form of online sexual offending against children.
- National Crime Agency representative Phil Eccles said tech companies must take part because police cannot arrest their way out of the problem.
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