Prime Minister Declares National Emergency Over Online Misogyny
In a forceful article for the Guardian, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has labelled the proliferation of online misogyny a national emergency, demanding immediate action from technology companies. He asserted that the burden of tackling abuse must shift away from victims and onto perpetrators and the platforms that enable harm.
Strict New Rules for Tech Firms
Under proposed amendments to the crime and policing bill, tech firms will be legally required to remove revenge porn and deepfake nudes within 48 hours after being flagged. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 10% of their global revenue or having their services blocked entirely in the UK. This measure also targets AI chatbots, such as X's Grok, which have facilitated the creation of nonconsensual explicit images.
Starmer emphasised that institutional misogyny woven into societal structures has led to the problem being dismissed or minimised. He wrote, Too often, misogyny is excused, minimised or ignored. The arguments of women are dismissed as exaggerated or 'one-offs'. That culture creates permission.
Enforcement and Victim Support
The government plans to grant Ofcom new enforcement powers by summer, with victims able to report images directly to tech firms or the regulator. Ofcom will explore digital watermarking for revenge porn to enable automatic flagging upon reposting. Additionally, internet providers will receive guidance on blocking rogue sites hosting nonconsensual content.
Anne Craanen, a researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, noted that while a 48-hour timeline is feasible, it may not incentivise faster responses compared to EU rules for terrorist content. She highlighted challenges in coordinating hash-matching technologies across platforms and the evolving threat from AI tools that can circumvent detection.
Broader Implications and Political Context
Creating or sharing nonconsensual intimate images will become a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, equating it with child abuse or terrorism. Starmer also addressed misogyny in government, pledging to appoint more women to senior roles and transform institutional cultures to ensure their voices lead to change.
This initiative follows controversies, including the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein, and criticism over Antonia Romeo's potential promotion amid past bullying allegations. Starmer's focus underscores a commitment to combating gender-based violence both online and in public life.
