Apple unveils slew of expanded child safety features ahead of Keir Starmer's 3-month deadline

Apple has just announced an expansion of its child-safety features during WWDC26, Apple’s annual developer event where the company unveils its latest software, Artificial Intelligence (AI) features, tools, and platform updates releasing later this year.Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health and Fitness, said: “At Apple, our mission has always been to create technology that empowers people and enriches their lives, while helping keep them safe. “Our approach to helping families create safer digital experiences is grounded in the belief that every child is unique. That’s why we build simple and intuitive tools, based on expert guidance, to let parents tailor their kids’ digital journey. Today, we’re introducing major updates to help families thoughtfully establish age-based protections and develop healthy digital habits.”You'll soon be able to create a child account with more tailored safeguards, give select access to which apps can be downloaded, monitor who kids can communicate with, and more. The announcement of the new features arrives right on the tail of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's warning to Apple and Google — giving them just three months to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude images on their phones and tablets.Speaking at London Tech Week, he said: Tech should adapt to the needs of society, not the other way around.“That is why today I am calling on tech companies operating in this country to introduce device controls that prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images.“Because this is not an impossible challenge. These are some of the most innovative companies in the world, and I believe they can solve it.“But if they choose not to, then we will act, and we will change the law because when it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option.” The rules will apply to both new and existing devices sold in the UK, and adults will need to verify their age to access such content.Here's everything Apple says you can expect to find in the new safety features. For starters, Apple's current feature, called Communication Safety, already automatically detects and blurs images or videos containing nudity before a child can view them. It works when kids receive potentially inappropriate content or try to send it themselves. It will also kick in during live FaceTime calls, offering real-time protection.The whole system is designed to warn children about what they're about to view, giving them a chance to step back rather than stumbling across harmful material unexpectedly.Now, Apple's taken things further by expanding the system to catch gore and violent content too. So if someone shares a disturbing image or video with a child, the new update will intervene and blur it before they see it.Apple's also making it much easier for parents to keep tabs on what their kids are doing online from the very start.The first step is setting up a child account, which automatically switches on age-appropriate safeguards. These include blocking adult websites, restricting App Store downloads to suitable content, and only allowing age-appropriate media.Apple said, Parents are guided through creating a child account when setting up a new device for their child. A child account is required for children under 13 and available for children up to 18. In the account, parents can control exactly which apps their children have access to, starting with just a handful and adding more as they grow.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSOura Ring 4 rival revealed with one-of-a-kind featureNew Oura Ring update brings one of the Ring 5's most exciting features to Ring 4End of Freeview? UK looks to 'switch off terrestrial television' and replace it with broadbandBest VPN dealsMicrosoft launches game-changing Windows 11 updateThere's a new feature called Ask to Browse that works alongside the existing Ask to Buy system. When kids want to visit a new website, they need parental approval first. Both features are switched on automatically for under-13s, though parents can enable them for teenagers too.Parents can also manage who their children communicate with, starting with immediate family and gradually expanding their contacts as they get older.Screen time has had a complete makeover too, giving parents a much clearer picture of how their children use their devices.There's a new time allowance feature that puts entertainment, games, and social media front and centre, with daily limits parents can set across all three categories.What's particularly clever is that there will be recommended time limits based on a child's age and developed with input from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Apple says it will keep updating these suggestions as research evolves.Parents can now set up schedules that change throughout the day, so different apps are available at different times. School hours can be kept focused on learning, while weekends might allow extra time for watching films.And if you need any assistance with Apple's child safety features, the tech firm is launching a website dedicated to assisting with any related questions. This includes queries regarding how to get started, screen time passcode notifications, app access, and more. These new features will be available as part of the Screen Time update found in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 later this year. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter