UK Enacts 48‑Hour Takedown Rule for Non‑Consensual Intimate Images
Updated (3 articles)
Mandated 48‑Hour Removal and Heavy Penalties The Crime and Policing Bill amendment, approved on 19 Feb 2026, obliges major tech platforms to delete non‑consensual intimate images within 48 hours of a report [1][2]. Companies that miss the deadline face fines up to 10 % of their qualifying worldwide revenue or possible blocking of their services in the UK [1][2]. The rule applies across all services regulated by Ofcom, ensuring a uniform enforcement horizon.
Government Frames Rule as Gender‑Based Violence Countermeasure Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the measure as ending the “whack‑a‑mole” chase victims endure and positioned it as a frontline defence against violence toward women and girls [2]. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall declared the “free pass” for tech firms over — and Janaya Walker of the End Violence Against Women Coalition praised the shift of responsibility onto platforms [2]. Starmer added that criminal law will back enforcement, though he does not anticipate prison sentences for tech executives [2].
Regulatory Mechanisms and Technical Measures Ofcom is considering treating illegal intimate images with the same severity as child‑sexual‑abuse material, fast‑tracking hash‑matching tools by May and targeting a summer rollout [1]. Victims will need to report each image only once; platforms must remove it across all services and block any future re‑uploads [1]. Internet service providers will receive guidance to block rogue sites outside the Online Safety Act’s scope, extending the enforcement net [2].
Rising Abuse Statistics Prompt Urgent Action July 2025 government report highlighted that young men and boys are increasingly targeted for financial sexual extortion (“sextortion”) [2]. A May 2025 parliamentary report recorded a 20.9 % rise in intimate‑image‑abuse reports during 2024 [2]. These trends underpin the urgency behind the new 48‑hour takedown requirement.
Sources
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1.
The Hindu: UK Mandates 48‑Hour Takedown of Non‑Consensual Intimate Images: outlines the amendment’s 48‑hour deadline, fines tied to global revenue, Starmer’s gender‑based violence framing, Ofcom’s hash‑matching plan, and simplified reporting mechanisms.
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2.
BBC: UK amendment forces 48‑hour takedown of non‑consensual intimate images: emphasizes enforcement tools, Starmer’s “whack‑a‑mole” comment, statements by Liz Kendall and Janaya Walker, rising abuse statistics, and ISP guidance to block rogue sites.
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Timeline
May 2025 – A parliamentary report records a 20.9 % rise in intimate‑image abuse reports for 2024, highlighting growing victimisation and prompting calls for stronger online safeguards [1].
July 2025 – A government study finds young men and boys are frequently targeted for financial sexual extortion (“sextortion”), expanding the scope of non‑consensual image abuse beyond women and influencing policy focus [1].
Feb 2025 – New legislation criminalises the creation and distribution of non‑consensual deepfake images, laying legal groundwork for later enforcement measures on intimate‑image abuse [1].
Jan 12 2026 – Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announces that a new offence criminalising the creation of non‑consensual intimate images will come into force within the week, signalling rapid government action after the Grok controversy on X [2].
Jan 12 2026 – Ofcom launches a high‑priority probe into X over the AI tool “Grok,” investigating whether the platform failed to remove illegal content promptly and warning that breaches could trigger large fines or a court‑ordered block [2].
Jan 12 2026 – In a public clash, Elon Musk claims the UK’s move seeks a pretext for censorship, while Kendall retorts that the measures target violence against women and girls, not free‑speech suppression [2].
Jan 2026 – Campaigners criticize the government’s delay in implementing the Data (Use and Access) Act, which would criminalise the creation or request of deepfake images, urging faster enforcement alongside the new offence [2].
Feb 19 2026 – Parliament passes an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that obliges major tech platforms to delete non‑consensual intimate images within 48 hours of a report, with penalties up to 10 % of worldwide revenue or possible service bans [1][3].
Feb 19 2026 – Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the 48‑hour rule ends the “whack‑a‑mole” chase for victims and frames the online world as the frontline of the 21st‑century battle against violence against women and girls [1][3].
Feb 19 2026 – Technology Secretary Liz Kendall declares the “free pass” for tech firms is over, while Janaya Walker of the End Violence Against Women Coalition says the rule “rightly places the responsibility on tech companies to act” [1].
Feb 19 2026 – New enforcement provisions require platforms to block re‑uploads of removed images and instruct ISPs to block rogue sites, extending the Online Safety Act’s reach and building on earlier deepfake legislation and the X standoff [1].
Feb 19 2026 – Ofcom signals it will treat illegal intimate images with the same severity as child‑sexual‑abuse material, planning to fast‑track hash‑matching tools by May 2026 and aim for a summer rollout of comprehensive removal systems [3].
Summer 2026 – Platforms must implement the simplified single‑report system and ensure permanent removal across all services, with enforcement expected to begin during the summer months following the amendment’s passage [3].