The UK may impose, perhaps within the year, a ban on the use of social media by children under 16 similar to that of Australia, thus closing a legal loophole that has left some Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots outside security regulations, as part of the government’s effort to address digital risks more quickly.

Prime Minister Kir Starmer’s government launched a consultation last month on banning the use of social media for children under 16 and is now working to change the legislation so that changes can be made within months of the consultation being completed.

Spain, Greece and Slovenia have also said they are working towards a ban following Australia’s world-leading ban on users under 16.

The scrutiny has intensified further since it was revealed that AI chatbox Grok, run by Elon Musk, was producing sexualised images of people without consent.

Growing global pressure on social media platforms

In Britain, the 2023 Cyber Security Bill is one of the strictest security regimes in the world, but it does not cover in-person interaction with AI chatbots unless users share information with other users, a legal loophole that technology minister Liz Kendall has said will soon be closed.

Britain cannot allow regulatory loopholes to continue as the law took nearly eight years to be passed and implemented, the minister said.

“I am concerned about these AI chatbots…as is the prime minister, about the impact they have on children and youth,” Kendall told Times Radio, adding that some children are entering into personal relationships with AI systems, but they are not designed with children’s safety in mind.

She said the government would present its proposals before June.

Speaking to the British media today, Kendall said technology companies would be responsible for ensuring their systems comply with British law.

The government will also consult on the changes needed for an automated data retention application in the event of a child’s death, which would allow investigators to secure critical online evidence, a measure long sought by victims’ families.

The consultation will also consider possible powers to tackle “stranger pairing” on games consoles as well as blocking the sending and receiving of images of nude content.

The new measures will be tabled for consideration in parliament as an amendment to existing legislation on crime and child protection.

While aimed at protecting children, such measures often have collateral effects on adults’ privacy and ability to access services, and have caused tension in relations with the US over free speech limits and regulatory reach.

Some major pornography websites have blocked British users rather than carrying out age checks, but this blocking can be circumvented by using available virtual private networks, which the government is considering banning for minors.

Many parents and online safety advocates support banning social media to children, but Kendall said some child protection organisations are concerned that this will push harmful actions into less regulated spaces or create a steep “cliff edge” at 16.

The minister added that the government still needed a legal definition for social media before any ban could come into force.