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UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
June 16, 2026
No 10 is worried about retaliation from White House over restrictions on under-16s’ internet use Ministers have embarked on a concerted lobbying operation to prevent a backlash from the Trump administration to the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer. Officials said they had spent weeks trying to reassure senior Trump officials and the…
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Starmer gives tech firms ultimatum to block explicit images on children’s phones
June 8, 2026
Companies such as Apple and Google have until September to install software or face legislation, says PM UK politics live – latest updates Apple and Google have been given until September to install software that blocks explicit images on children’s mobile phones or face legislation enforcing its requirement, Keir Starmer said on Monday. The prime…
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AI platforms reference Nigel Farage more than other leaders when prompted on UK politics, study shows
May 5, 2026
Reform UK is ‘doing something right when it comes to visibility’ on multiple AI systems, say researchers AI platforms are more likely to reference Nigel Farage than any other UK leader when prompted about British politics, according to an AI search analytics firm. “We are confident in saying that Reform are showing up significantly more…
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Starmer adviser held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech bosses
May 4, 2026
Exclusive: Varun Chandra’s talks with Google, Meta, Apple and others raise fears of ‘lobbying behind closed doors’ An influential government adviser close to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech executives, the Guardian can reveal. The No 10 business aide Varun Chandra discussed regulatory changes, AI and Donald Trump’s…
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Starmer tells social media firms in No 10 meeting ‘things can’t go on like this’
April 16, 2026
PM summons senior figures from Meta, TikTok, Google and X and says social media is ‘putting our children at risk’ Keir Starmer has told social media bosses “things can’t go on like this” in a Downing Street meeting over internet safety. The prime minister summoned senior figures at Meta, TikTok, Google and X to No…
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Keir Starmer says UK will ‘have to act’ to curb addictive features of social media
March 29, 2026
In his strongest intervention yet, PM says some features ‘shouldn’t be permitted’, while education secretary says things ‘are going to change’ Keir Starmer has backed banning addictive social media features in his strongest intervention yet on curbs that could be placed on tech companies, saying the features “shouldn’t be permitted”. The prime minister said the…
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Tech firms must remove ‘revenge porn’ in 48 hours or risk being blocked, says Starmer
February 19, 2026
PM says measure, also applied to deepfake nudes, is needed owing to a ‘national emergency’ of online misogyny Deepfake nudes and “revenge porn” must be removed from the internet within 48 hours or technology firms risk being blocked in the UK, Keir Starmer has said, calling it a “national emergency” that the government must confront.…
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Starmer vows to fast-track social media law but says under-16s ban not definite
February 17, 2026
Prime minister says action will be taken on young people’s social media access in ‘months, not years’ What social media restrictions has Keir Starmer announced? Keir Starmer has pledged action on young people’s access to social media in “months, not years”, while saying this did not necessarily mean a complete ban on access for under-16s.…
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New rules on social media could target ‘doomscrolling’ and ban for under-16s, Starmer says – UK politics live
February 16, 2026
Prime minister says outcomes of consultation on social media ban should be implemented quickly as technology minister says Australia-style ban is not inevitable In his Q&A with journalists, Keir Starmer was also asked to respond to a report by the BBC’s James Landale saying he is looking at plans to raise defence spending to 3%…
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Starmer to extend online safety rules to AI chatbots after Grok scandal
February 16, 2026
Starmer to announce ‘crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI’ after scandal involving Elon Musk’s Grok tool Makers of AI chatbots that put children at risk will face massive fines or even see their services blocked in the UK under law changes to be announced by Keir Starmer on Monday. Emboldened by Elon Musk’s…
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