The British government will ask Apple and Google to block the downloading and sharing of nude photos unless the user is verified as an adult, according to a new report. Additionally, the report states that the government wants iOS and Android operating systems to prevent nude images from appearing on the device unless the user is verified as an adult.
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There is growing support for the idea that app stores, rather than individual developers, should be held legally responsible for verifying the age of users. In the US, this has led to proposed legislation, the App Store Accountability Act.
Instead of users having to prove their age to multiple individual developers each time they download an app with a minimum age requirement, the idea is that users would do it once to either Apple or Google, and the company would restrict access to apps accordingly. Apple has so far lobbied against this, but it has been argued that this would actually be the best solution.
In the latest development, the Financial Times reports that the British government will ask Apple and Google to protect children from taking and viewing nude photos. Ministers want Apple and Google to build nudity detection algorithms into their device operating systems to prevent users from taking or sharing images of genitalia unless they are verified as adults.
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The Home Office wants to see operating systems that prevent any nudity from appearing on screen unless the user has been verified as an adult through methods such as biometric checks or official ID. The report suggests an announcement is expected in the coming days. The wording suggests this would be a request rather than a legal requirement, at least for now.
Apple already offers some protections within the Messages. If a child in an iCloud Family group receives a sexually explicit image, it will initially be blurred and a warning message will appear. If the child taps the View Photo, they will see a pop-up that explains why the message is considered sensitive and asks if they want to see it. The pop-up also explains that the parent who is set as an administrator for the group will be notified.
This is the most controversial age verification proposal we’ve seen to date. The idea that Apple and Google would be tracking both photos and any material viewed on any app raises significant privacy concerns, even if it’s done on the device. At the same time, there’s a growing problem with sex offenders approaching children to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM), particularly pretending to be teenagers to encourage real teenagers to share photos and videos.
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The typical pattern involves escalating blackmail, where victims are forced to send increasingly sensitive content. Several teen suicides have been linked to this issue. This proposal may at least spark discussion about the problem to see if more realistic and reasonable solutions can be found.
