UK Police Urge Ban on Unsafe Platforms for Children Under 16
UK police bosses urge unsafe platforms to be blocked for under-16s

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UK police chiefs are calling for a ban on social media, AI, and gaming apps that do not disable high-risk features for users under 16. The National Crime Agency and the National Police Chiefs' Council emphasize the need for government legislation to protect children from online dangers, citing a significant rise in online child sexual abuse reports.
- 01The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported 92,000 potential child sexual abuse incidents online in 2025, highlighting a growing crisis.
- 02Key features deemed unsafe include unrestricted contact from unknown adults and algorithms promoting harmful content.
- 03The government is considering various measures, including age limits and outright bans on certain platforms for under-16s.
- 04Police chiefs criticize the tech industry's slow response to child safety concerns, calling the online environment a 'wild west'.
- 05Charities express concern that end-to-end encryption could hinder efforts to combat child abuse online.
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UK police chiefs, including Graeme Biggar from the National Crime Agency (NCA), are advocating for a ban on social media, AI, and gaming platforms that do not disable high-risk features for children under 16. This call comes amid alarming statistics, with the NCA reporting 92,000 potential child sexual abuse incidents online in 2025, a number that continues to rise. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has identified six dangerous features that should be absent in apps used by children, including unrestricted contact from unknown adults and algorithms that promote harmful content. The government supports measures to enhance online safety, considering options such as age limits and outright bans on dangerous platforms. However, police officials criticize the tech industry's slow response to these issues, describing the current online landscape as a 'wild west' where regulations lag behind technological advancements. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the impact of end-to-end encryption on child safety, as it may obstruct investigations into online grooming and abuse. The NCA and NPCC are urging for stronger legislation and enforcement to protect children in the digital space.
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The proposed measures aim to significantly enhance the safety of children online, potentially reducing the risk of exploitation and abuse.
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