The United Kingdom government is preparing to formally request that Apple and Google integrate age verification systems into their mobile and potentially desktop operating systems to block the taking, sharing and viewing of nude images unless a user has demonstrated they are an adult.

Officials in the Home Office are expected to announce the initiative as part of a broader strategy to protect children and vulnerable individuals from exposure to sexually explicit material, expanding on existing measures under the Online Safety Act that require age checks for online pornography.

Under the proposed framework, both iOS and Android would incorporate nudity-detection algorithms that prevent explicit content from being displayed on screen unless the user successfully verifies their age through methods such as biometric authentication or official identification.

Ministers have emphasised that the initial request is not a legal mandate for devices sold in Britain but could evolve into one should voluntary compliance fall short.

The proposal marks a shift from app-level moderation toward system-wide protections, compelling platform holders to assume responsibility for content safety across camera functions, messaging apps and galleries.

Government officials argue that embedding such safeguards at the operating system level would close loopholes that allow minors to access explicit material by circumventing app or web-based checks and is part of a wider campaign to reduce online harms as required by current legislation.

Industry responses are anticipated to reflect concerns about privacy, encryption and the technical feasibility of scanning content on personal devices, even as lawmakers position the measures as a necessary evolution in protecting children from digital risks.

The looming policy is expected to catalyse debate industry-wide over how best to balance safety with individual privacy rights while setting a potential precedent for other jurisdictions considering similar reforms.