Overview
- From Jan. 8, 2026, social networks and dating apps must proactively detect and prevent non‑consensual sexual images rather than rely on post‑hoc removal.
- Non‑compliant services face fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue or potential blocking in the UK under the Online Safety Act.
- Ofcom will consult on updated codes of practice expected to include automated pre‑screening and hiding of images, stronger policies, and enhanced moderation tools.
- Cyberflashing has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since January 2024, with perpetrators facing penalties including up to two years in prison.
- Companies such as Bumble already deploy AI nudity detection that blurs images before display, while regulators are also scrutinising X’s Grok over sexually explicit deepfakes with inquiries in France and contacts from Ofcom.