Liz Kendall Calls for Accelerated Government Action Against Deepfake Technology
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has issued a stark warning that ministers must act more swiftly to combat rapidly evolving technological threats, particularly deepfakes that endanger women and girls online. In an exclusive interview following a high-level roundtable with major tech companies, Kendall emphasized that technological advancements are outpacing the government's regulatory capabilities, creating urgent vulnerabilities.
Regulatory Framework Struggling to Keep Pace
Kendall highlighted the concerning gap between technological innovation and legislative response, noting that the Online Safety Act took eight years to implement while technology continues to develop at breakneck speed. The technology secretary proposed implementing regular annual reviews of regulations, drawing a parallel to how Parliament handles finance bills during budget season. "In a world where technology is developing so quickly, we've got to be prepared to look at this much more, much more quickly," Kendall stated.
She elaborated on the systemic challenge facing government and Parliament: "We can't have a situation where you only legislate once every eight years to deal with some of these issues, and that's something I am acutely aware of." This admission comes as deepfake technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible, creating new avenues for online harassment and exploitation.
Tech Companies Face Pressure to Address Online Misogyny
Kendall recently convened a roundtable with leading technology firms including Meta, Snapchat, Reddit, Match Group, Google, TikTok, and OnlyFans, where she directly urged them to intensify efforts against online misogyny. The meeting underscored the government's expectation that platforms take greater responsibility for content moderation and user protection.
The technology secretary pointed to recent controversies as evidence of the urgent need for action. "The public is right to put pressure on the government to say we want our kids to be safe, as women, to take these awful images down," Kendall asserted, referencing incidents involving artificial intelligence tools generating harmful content.
Recent AI Controversy Demonstrates Government Resolve
Kendall cited the recent Grok chatbot controversy as an example of successful government intervention. When users of Elon Musk's X platform employed the AI tool to create sexualized images of real people, Kendall and other ministers applied pressure that resulted in X disabling this functionality in the UK. "We stood up and stood firm and said it's against our values, it's against the law and we won't be bullied by anyone in protecting women and girls," she declared.
This incident prompted Kendall to announce that AI chatbots would be brought under the Online Safety Act's jurisdiction, meaning companies could face penalties for harmful content generated by their AI systems as well as by human users.
Social Media Ban for Under-16s Under Consideration
Parallel to the deepfake concerns, Kendall has launched a consultation exploring potential social media bans for children under 16, with findings expected this summer. The technology secretary indicated the government would seek to pass new legislation following the consultation, though she acknowledged this might occur through secondary legislation that doesn't allow parliamentary amendments.
Campaigners advocating for stricter online protections express concern that any implemented ban might be weaker than necessary and that Parliament won't have adequate opportunity to strengthen it. While Kendall assured that MPs would get a vote, she clarified it could be through secondary legislation processes that limit amendment possibilities.
Parliamentary Debate Scheduled on Children's Online Safety
The urgency of these issues will be highlighted this Wednesday when Parliament debates children's online safety. The Commons science, innovation and technology committee will hear testimony from Australia's eSafety commissioner alongside health campaigners and parent groups regarding whether social media access should be restricted for under-16s.
Kendall emphasized the government's determination to address these challenges: "I hope what we did on Grok shows how utterly determined the prime minister is and I am too." As technology continues to evolve at unprecedented rates, the pressure mounts for regulatory frameworks to adapt with similar speed to protect vulnerable populations from emerging digital threats.
