Key points
- Apple, Google may face government age checks
- Proposal follows Australia’s social media restrictions
- UK law demands age checks for adult content
- Ofcom warns against simple age verification boxes
ISLAMABAD: Following Australia’s social media ban, the UK government is considering asking tech giants Apple and Google to introduce controls that would require age verification before users can take or view nude images on their devices, according to a report in The Financial Times.
The report, published on Monday, suggests that UK lawmakers may approach the two companies to discuss implementing such measures. This comes shortly after Australia began enforcing a social media ban aimed at preventing children under 16 from accessing platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X.
Although the UK government has not yet officially confirmed whether it is in discussions with Apple and Google, the report highlights that UK laws already require age verification for websites and apps hosting adult content.
Ofcom
The communications regulator, Ofcom, has pointed out that simply ticking a box to confirm someone is over 18 will no longer suffice.
The UK’s proposed initiative is expected to align with its Online Safety Act regulations. Apple and Google have not yet commented on whether formal talks with the UK government are underway.
Australia’s world-first decision to block social media accounts for everyone under 16 has triggered multiple legal challenges.
Reddit, the social news aggregation and discussion site, filed a suit on December 2, 2025, contending that law enforcement could set a dangerous precedent for online free expression.
