UK Closes Legal Loophole to Force AI Chatbots Under Online Safety Act

UK Government Targets AI Chatbots in Online Safety Push

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced sweeping changes to bring AI chatbot providers under the UK's Online Safety Act, closing a legal loophole that previously allowed many standalone AI services to operate outside the law's reach.

The announcement comes in the wake of a major confrontation with Elon Musk earlier this year, after his Grok AI tool was widely used to generate non-consensual sexual deepfake images, including of minors. Ofcom launched a formal investigation into X in January 2026, and the backlash prompted the government to act decisively.

What's Changing

Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will require all AI chatbot providers to comply with illegal content duties under the Online Safety Act, covering terrorism, child sexual abuse material, harassment, and hate crime. The bill will also criminalise the supply of nudification tools.

Further amendments to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will give ministers powers to rapidly update regulations as new online threats emerge, without waiting years for fresh legislation.

Broader Child Safety Measures

The government is also advancing a consultation on wider child safety reforms, including potential minimum age limits for social media access, improvements to age verification technology, and restrictions on addictive design features such as infinite scrolling and streaks. The House of Lords has already backed amendments requiring age verification for VPN users and banning VPN services for under-eighteens.

Political Reaction

While the government frames the moves as decisive action, critics say the pace is too slow. Conservative peer Lord Nash called the consultation "more delay," urging an immediate age limit of sixteen. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott accused the government of "inaction," pointing to Australia's ban on social media for under-sixteens as an example the UK should follow.

The government has said it will respond to the consultation by summer 2026, with Starmer pledging the UK will be "the leader, not a follower" on online safety.