The UK government has asked Apple and Google to put in place a system to prevent pornographic images from being viewed by minors at the operating system (OS) level. The UK Home Office wants an OS that prevents pornographic images from being displayed unless the user confirms that they are an adult through a biometric authentication system or official ID card. On the devices of child sex offenders, this restriction will be enabled at all times even if they are adults.
Initially, this blocking system will need to be supported on mobile devices before being expanded to desktop devices. This year, the UK has already required age verification before adult sites can be accessed. As a result, VPN use has increased in the UK with traffic to certain adult sites plummeting by up to 77% after this age verification system was enforced.
Although Apple and Google do not have pornographic content filters at the OS level, security systems on messaging apps have been activated. Apple with “Communication Safety” and Google through settings in the Family Link app. Both systems simply blur pornographic images received via Messages, AirDrop, and FaceTime.