In a significant move to enhance online safety, Liz Kendall, the UK Technology Secretary, announced during the Labour Party conference that cyberflashing will now be classified as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, requiring platforms to take stronger measures to protect users from unsolicited nude images or videos.

Kendall emphasized her commitment to safeguarding children online by expanding efforts to include cyberflashing as a serious offence, aligning digital laws with offline legal standards.

A recent YouGov survey revealed that about 32% of girls aged 12-18 in England have received unsolicited pictures of male genitals, with 5% reporting they have been affected by such images, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.

Cyberflashing was officially criminalized in England and Wales in January 2024, with offenders facing potential imprisonment of up to two years.

As part of the new regulations, social media companies in the UK will be legally required to detect and remove unsolicited explicit images; failure to comply could result in fines up to 10% of their global revenue or service bans.

These platforms will face significant penalties if they do not actively monitor and remove such content, including the risk of being blocked in the UK.