Starmer summons tech chiefs

Keir Starmer summoned senior executives from Meta, TikTok, X, Snap and Google to Downing Street on April 16 and told them to do more to protect children online. (gov.uk) Downing Street said Starmer would tell the companies that “looking the other way is not an option” and that social media firms “must step up” on child safety. The meeting came a day after the government published the invitation and agenda for the talks. (gov.uk) The push followed a House of Commons vote on April 15 rejecting a blanket ban on social media for under-16s for the second time. Members of Parliament voted 256 to 150 against a Lords amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. (theguardian.com) Instead of a default ban, ministers are keeping a consultation-based approach that could lead to narrower restrictions after the review ends. The government said it wants powers to act quickly once that consultation concludes. (gov.uk) (independent.co.uk) The immediate backdrop is the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, which already requires platforms and search services to assess and reduce risks to children. The law puts duties on services likely to be accessed by children, not just sites aimed only at minors. (gov.uk) Ofcom, the regulator enforcing the law, finalized more than 40 child-safety measures in April 2025 and said companies had to introduce safer feeds, stronger age checks and better protections against harmful material. Those rules cover risks including suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, pornography, bullying and dangerous challenges. (ofcom.org.uk) Those child-protection duties took effect in July 2025, when Ofcom said providers had to complete children’s risk assessments by July 24, 2025. Ofcom has also opened enforcement work on age-assurance requirements for services that host content deemed especially harmful to children. (ofcom.org.uk 1) (ofcom.org.uk 2) Campaigners and some peers have argued that the law still leaves too much discretion to platforms and regulators, which is why they pressed for an Australian-style under-16 ban. Ministers have said a blanket prohibition is too rigid and that the bill should give them flexible powers instead. (theguardian.com) (independent.co.uk) The companies have said publicly that they already use safety tools such as age checks, parental controls and content moderation, but Starmer’s message in Downing Street was that existing measures have not settled the issue. The government is now pairing new legal powers with direct pressure on the platforms themselves. (gov.uk)