Trigger warning: This content includes mention of child sexual abuse and online sexual extortion.
Luke Alsford’s report for Metro, published on 4 September 2026, covers former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips calling on the Prime Minister to legislate for on-device nudity blocking, as Apple and Google look set to miss the Government’s 8 September deadline. Reports of sextortion from under-18s rose 34 per cent last year.
Two CEASE voices appear in the article.
Dr Elly Hanson, CEASE’s Strategy Director, told Metro she was “outraged and aggrieved, but not shocked” that the deadline had not been met.
“We know from bitter experience that big tech tends not to protect children unless it is forced to, so now is the time to apply this force. Device level protections must be mandated in legislation as a matter of national urgency.”
Lauren Agnew, CEASE’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, warned that letting the commitment go quiet would be “a green light to companies that have shown voluntary measures don’t work”.
“Every week this drags on, children are left exposed on devices that could be protecting them right now.”
