Keir Starmer has announced that tech companies must stop children from sending or receiving naked images of themselves, or the government will change the law.

In his speech, Starmer said:

One issue is the ability for children with phones to send and receive nude images.

For too long, people have been told that is simply the price of modern tech, that nothing can be done, that government is powerless, that parents just have to accept it.

I reject that completely, because tech should adapt to the needs of society, not the other way around.

That is why today I am calling on tech companies operating in this country to introduce device controls that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images.

Because this is not an impossible challenge. These are some of the most innovative companies in the world and I believe they can solve it.

But if they choose not to, then we will act and we will change the law because when it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option.

When Jess Phillips resigned as safeguarding minister last month, she criticised Starmer for not acting more quickly to implement this plan. She said she was pushing for this more than a year ago.

Keir Stamer is giving his speech, making the start of London Tech Week.

He began by saying the UK is uniquely placed to lead the world in the technological revolution. And it was a revolution “with the potential to transform lives, to strengthen communities, and create opportunities right across the country and a revolution that Britain is uniquely placed to lead”.

Starmer said:

Britain is the third-largest technology economy in the world. Our start-ups have raised close to half of all European investment in tech this year.

The Times this morning is reporting that Keir Starmer will soon announce a ban on “harmful” social media platforms for under-16s. (See 8.27am.) In their story, Max Kendix, Stefan Boscia and Oliver Wright say:

Those familiar with the proposals said the prime minister was looking at a “hybrid” system that would include elements of the Australian ban and the outlawing of specific features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications and autoplay.

One source claimed the proposals could have more “granular” age restrictions by limiting certain features and sites to different age groups rather than a blanket under-16s ban like in Australia.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the children’s commissioner for England, has urged the government to go further. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, she said she would like to see restrictions cover 16 and 17-year-olds too, and apply to gaming platforms as well as social media sites.

She said:

If we are genuinely seeking to safeguard children from harm, we cannot allow 16- and 17-year-olds to have lesser protection …

I am calling for all online services – not just social media platforms, but gaming sites and any platforms that make use of harmful features and functionalities – to be banned from accessing children, until they can prove that they are designed in a way that will protect children’s safety and wellbeing.

De Souza recently co-chaired a review for the government with Russell Viner, an adolescent health professor, that produced guidance for parents on screen use by under-5s. She and Viner are now producing for the government guidance on at what age children should get a smartphone.

In an interview on the Today programme this morning, she said that while children say they don’t like the principle of being banned from accessing social media, they also say that their social media use is bad for them, for example affecting their sleep, and they want help reducing it.

She said for the first time in six years she was “optimistic” about the government being ready to take action.

But children should not get the blame, she stressed. She told the programme:

[We should] ban the companies from having access to our children until they prove that they are actually worthy of them. If they’ve got these terrible algorithms, of course they should be banned.

I just want to frame it not as a ban on children – the children have done nothing wrong. We are protecting children by not allowing these companies to have access to them.

Jacqui Smith, the skills minister, has argued that Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, lacked “class” when he used a speech at a D-day commemoration service to criticise European countries over their record on immigration.

As Ashifa Kassam reports, Hegseth’s speech has been condemned across Europe and beyond.

This morning Smith, who has been doing a media round, joined the chorus. Asked on LBC if Hegseth was right, she replied:

No, he’s not right, and no, I think it’s a bit lacking in class to raise it at a ceremony like that.

Smith said there had been “very big reductions” in net migration under Labour and “we will continue to take action on the things that I think people are really worried about, particularly those who are coming across the Channel in small boats.”

Good morning. Two weeks today, it seems more likely than not that Andy Burnham will be taking his seat as the new MP for Makerfield. A byelection win is not certain, but the campaign is definitely going his way. Keir Starmer has been saying he won’t just stand aside and let Burnham replace him as Labour leader, but these briefings are being received with a hefty dose of scepticism.

The unnamed minister quoted in today’s Times splash gives a more realistic guide to what is happening. They say:

Keir has entered his legacy era. The conversations are now all, ‘What is announceable in time before Makerfield?’

The Times says that one of these legacy ‘announceables’ will be a ban on “harmful” social media (ie, not all social media) for under-16s. The PM wants to announced that before the byelection, the paper says.

Starmer is also giving a speech on technology this morning. According to the extracts briefed in advance, he will the “tech revolution must work for everyone”. He will say:

No one doubts the huge potential of tech to change lives. But we have to decide who that change is for. This government’s choice is clear: the tech revolution must work for everyone, not just a privileged few.

We’re backing British businesses to lead the way, driving growth and investment that turns into more jobs and stronger communities. And we’re using tech to bring opportunity to every corner of the country – helping people into work, tackling inequalities, boosting skills and building a fairer future.

There was also a mini news announcement in the overnight briefing – but not one that will be remembered by anyone writing about Starmer’s legacy. He will say the Department for Work and Pensions is trialling what it calls an “AI work assistant” to help the jobless find work. No 10 says:

The tool will provide a 24/7 resource for people, offering guidance on topics such as career development, job searching and applications. The trial will last for around three months, to gather data and feedback on how people are using the service so that it can be adapted and improved as necessary.

You can access the tool here, although you will need a GOV.UK login.

There may be other news in the speech too.

Here is the agenda for the day.

Morning: Keir Starmer is giving a speech on technology and AI.

10am: Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson and deputy leader, holds a press conference on tackling energy bills.

Morning: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in London where she will be speaking to the media.

11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.

1pm: Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, speaks at the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers union conference.

1.15pm: Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, gives a speech at the AI adoption summit.

2.30pm: Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, takes questions in the Commons.

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