UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled sweeping new rules to keep children safe online.
On Monday, February 16, Starmer expanded regulations to AI chatbots, paving the way for a possible social media ban for under-16s following the Grok AI scandal involving Elon Musk’s X platform.
With these new rules, the government plans to close a loophole that previously exempted AI chatbots from key provisions of the Online Safety Act.
This means that AI chatbots like Musk’s Grok and OpenAI’s ChatGPT must now prevent children from accessing harmful content or face fines of up to 10% of global revenue.
Starmer said: “These AI chatbots are forming friendships with kids that can take them to all kinds of places they shouldn’t go.”
Top key actions include:
- The government plans to amend the child welfare bill with “Henry VIII powers” to implement any future social media ban for under-16s without hindrance.
- AI chatbots will track illegal content tasks similar to those on traditional social media platforms, curbing infinite scrolling and setting age limits on VPNs used to bypass restrictions.
- Ministers will introduce the “Jool law” which will require platforms to preserve the data of children who died within five days of a death being reported and make it accessible to coroners.
The chief executive of the UK’s leading children’s charity, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, warned: “Social media has produced enormous benefits but many harms. AI is going to be on steroids if we are not careful.”
