UK Prime Minister Announces Crackdown on AI Chatbots Posing Risks to Children

London. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced strict measures against Artificial Intelligence (AI) based chatbots that endanger children.

 According to the government, new regulations will be introduced to control illegal and obscene content generated through AI. Under the plan published on Monday, the government is preparing to launch a public consultation, including the possibility of banning social media use for children under 16.

This consultation, starting in March, will also study measures to set a minimum age limit for social media and prevent access to obscene content using VPNs. Starmer stated that as technology changes rapidly, the law must also be updated accordingly. 

According to him, the new powers will help the government react quickly to technological developments, meaning they will not have to wait for lengthy parliamentary processes to create new laws each time. Under the proposed rules, all AI chatbot service providers will have to comply with the Digital Safety Act.

Specifically, the prohibition on creating sexual images or content without an individual's consent will be strictly enforced. This move comes after controversial images were created via Elon Musk's Grok chatbot on the X platform. 

The government plans to implement these measures through amendments to the Crime and Child Protection Act currently being discussed in Parliament. This step by the UK is seen as related to growing global concern following Australia's ban on social media use for children under 16 on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.