Ministers have confirmed an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill requiring tech platforms to remove non‑consensual intimate images within 48 hours of being flagged. Non‑compliance could trigger penalties of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue or UK service blocking, with Ofcom set to enforce under Online Safety Act powers. (gov.uk)
The policy, announced on 19 February 2026, states victims should only need to report an image once, with removal applied across multiple platforms and future uploads automatically blocked through digital fingerprinting. This integrates with Ofcom’s plan to accelerate decisions on proactive ‘hash‑matching’ requirements for illegal intimate images. (gov.uk)
The measure will be added to the Crime and Policing Bill at Lords stage alongside wider criminal justice reforms. The Bill collection confirms new offences related to taking intimate images without consent; ministerial correspondence on 13 February 2026 sets out the latest tranche of government amendments for Report. (gov.uk)
The offences framework has been expanding. Sections 66A–66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003-inserted by the Online Safety Act 2023-criminalise sharing or threatening to share intimate images. The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 adds offences for creating or requesting the creation of purported intimate image deepfakes. Ministers intend to designate such offences as ‘priority’ under the Online Safety Act, imposing proactive duties on platforms. (cps.gov.uk)
Enforcement will follow Online Safety Act mechanisms. Ofcom can levy fines up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue and, in the most serious cases, seek court‑ordered ‘business disruption measures’-including requiring payment and advertising providers to withdraw services or ISPs to block access in the UK. (ofcom.org.uk)
Government will also publish guidance for internet providers on blocking access to sites hosting intimate image abuse, aimed at rogue services that fall outside the Online Safety Act. This complements existing Home Office guidance for infrastructure providers on extremist content and sits alongside Ofcom’s disruption powers. (gov.uk)
Recent enforcement context is relevant. Ofcom opened a formal investigation into X on 12 January 2026 after reports that its Grok chatbot had been used to generate intimate images; X has since introduced mitigations, though the probe continues. (ofcom.org.uk)
Operationally, platforms will need round‑the‑clock intake and triage for image‑based abuse, automation to de‑duplicate and block re‑uploads at the point of submission, and records that evidence timely action. Ofcom’s codes and enforcement guidance expect suitable risk assessments and rapid removal of illegal content once known. (ofcom.org.uk)
Smaller services remain in scope if they host user‑generated content or search results accessible to UK users. Ofcom’s updates show active investigations and penalties where providers fail to engage, and note that some services have restricted UK access during investigations-actions that regulators continue to monitor. (ofcom.org.uk)
Timelines now run on two tracks: Parliament must approve the amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, and Ofcom will confirm any new hash‑matching code requirements in May 2026, with measures expected to take effect in summer 2026, subject to the statutory process. Companies should align internal service‑level targets with the 48‑hour ceiling in advance. (ofcom.org.uk)
For victims, the aim is less duplication and faster redress: a single report should remove content across participating platforms and prevent re‑appearance via hashing. Ofcom’s guidance for a safer online experience for women and girls underscores expectations on companies to deploy hash‑matching and strengthen moderation workflows. (gov.uk)
The amendment sits within a broader mission to recognise violence against women and girls as a national emergency and to halve prevalence over the next decade. Alongside the image‑abuse provisions, the Crime and Policing Bill package advances measures on stalking, child sexual abuse reporting, retail worker protection and other policing reforms now moving through the Lords. (gov.uk)