The NSPCC is calling for tech companies to block child sexual abuse images in real time

As image offences rise by 8%, NSPCC CEO Chris Sherwood says that children have been failed by tech companies and urges firms to take action now.  He is urging tech companies to embed technology on children’s phones that blocks nude images from being created, shared or viewed – and for the UK government to take further action if they fail to.

His call comes as data from 41 police forces shows that between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, there were 36,775 recorded offences of indecent and prohibited images of children across the UK. That was an 8% rise in recorded offences, compared to the previous year.​​

The NSPCC insists that existing technologies can block illegal images in real time – embedding those on children's phones would help stop children being coerced to take and share images later used by offenders, as well as protecting them from seeing nude images.