Child safety: No online platform gets a free pass, Prime Minister says

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said no online platform will get a 'free pass' on children's safety; the government will launch a consultation on social media protections in March and plans legal changes to tighten rules for AI chatbots.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said no online platform will get a free pass when it comes to children's safety online. The announcement sets out planned actions to close legal loopholes around AI chatbots and to consult on further social media protections. The Government says it will meet parents and young people ahead of a consultation that is due to open in March. Ministers also plan legislative changes to respond to fast-moving technology. Key points: - The Prime Minister said the government will not give platforms a 'free pass' and is moving to close legal loopholes that have allowed chatbots to produce deepfake imagery. - A public consultation on social media protections for children will open in March and will be guided by input from parents and young people. - The government intends to pursue legal changes, including amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to set chatbot protections and powers in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill to enable faster legal responses; it also plans to adopt measures to preserve children's online data as called for by campaigners. Summary: These proposals signal a push to increase oversight of online platforms and AI tools affecting children. The immediate next step is a consultation due to begin in March, and ministers plan to pursue amendments to existing bills to implement changes. Undetermined at this time.