UK to Mandate 48-Hour Removal of Non-Consensual Intimate Images on Social Media

New Legal Framework and Heavy Sanctions The UK government has announced a comprehensive plan to amend legislation aimed at increasing the safety of women and girls online. Under the new regulations, social media platforms will be legally required to remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours after being notified. Technology companies that fail to comply with these requirements could face severe administrative fines reaching up to 10 percent of their global annual revenue. Additionally, the government may impose access blocks on platforms that persistently refuse to follow the rules. Automatic Removal and Ofcom Oversight Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, plans to treat such content with the same level of severity as child abuse and terrorist material. Under the new system, once an image is reported, it will not only be deleted from the specific platform but will also be recognized by automated systems to prevent it from being re-uploaded. The government also intends to publish technical guidance for internet service providers on how to block access to websites hosting such illegal content. Prime Minister Starmer: "The Front Line of the Struggle" UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the digital world is the "front line" in the fight against violence targeting women. Starmer stated that they are determined to end the fear victims face regarding a deleted image reappearing elsewhere. Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall added that the internet must be a safe space for women, stressing that no woman should have to wait days for a photograph to be removed.