Prime Minister Keir Starmer says his government will take “immediate action” to make the online world safer for children following calls from MPs and the public that the government is not moving fast enough to protect children online.

Speaking to parents and young people, the Prime Minister said that this government will act at pace to keep kids safe online as they navigate a digital world that did not exist a generation ago, and one that is shaped by powerful platforms, addictive design and fast-moving technologies.

Included in the proposals is the closure of a legal loophole to force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act.

Attention to this loophole was sparked by the torrent of sexualised deepfake images generated by Grok and circulating on X that was investigated by Ofcom. While Ofcom was able to properly begin its investigations into X, the social media platform, its investigation into xAI’s Grok has hampered by the current regulations surrounding AI chatbots.

Starmer also said that the government is taking new legal powers to lay the groundwork for immediate action following its consultation – set to launch next month – on children’s wellbeing online. This means the government can create new legal powers to take action, rather than wait for parliamentary legislation to introduce new regulations or protections.

The consultation will query on such topics as setting a minimum age limit for social media, and restricting features like infinite scrolling that can be harmful to children, as noted in the consultation.

The government is looking to consult with tech companies to find ways to safeguard children from sending or receiving illegal and illicit images.

The consultation will also confront the full range of risks children face online. This includes examining restrictions on children’s use of AI chatbots, as well as options to age restrict or limit children’s VPN use where it undermines safety protections and changing the age of digital consent. It also plans on strengthening the protection of online data following a child’s death to better aid in investigations.

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“As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges and the worries that parents face making sure their kids are safe online,” prime minister Keir Starmer said.

“Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up. With my government, Britain will be a leader not a follower when it comes to online safety.

“The action we took on Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass.

“Today we are closing loopholes that put children at risk, and laying the groundwork for further action.

“We are acting to protect children’s wellbeing and help parents to navigate the minefield of social media.”