Finance
UK PM Starmer: More Action Is Needed to Protect Children on Social Media
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 19, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 19, 2026
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UK PM Keir Starmer stresses the need for improved child protection on social media following AI-related image scandals. New laws are being enacted to combat non-consensual images.
UK PM Starmer Calls for Enhanced Protection for Children on Social Media
Government Actions on Social Media Safety
LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday more needed to be done to protect children on social media following the worldwide scandal of Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot producing non-consensual sexual images.
Recent Developments in AI Regulation
"We need to do more to protect children, and that's why we're looking at a range of options, and saying no options are off the table," Starmer told reporters.
New Laws Against Non-Consensual Images
Musk's xAI last week said it had implemented tweaks to prevent the Grok account "from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis."
It also said it had blocked users, based on their location, from generating images of people in revealing clothing in "jurisdictions where it's illegal." It did not identify those jurisdictions.
Britain has enacted a new law that will make the production of non-consensual sexual images illegal in addition to the sharing of them.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Paul Sandle; Editing by Catarina Demony)
Key Takeaways
- •UK PM Keir Starmer calls for enhanced child protection on social media.
- •New UK laws target non-consensual sexual images.
- •Elon Musk's Grok AI involved in recent image scandal.
- •AI regulation developments are underway.
- •Government considers all options for social media safety.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK PM Starmer: More action is needed to protect children on social media
1What is social media safety?
Social media safety refers to practices and measures taken to protect users, especially children, from harmful content and interactions on social media platforms.
2What are non-consensual images?
Non-consensual images are photographs or videos of individuals that are shared without their permission, often in a sexual context, which can lead to legal consequences.
3What is AI regulation?
AI regulation involves the establishment of laws and guidelines governing the development and use of artificial intelligence technologies to ensure ethical use and protect individuals' rights.
