Protecting our children

Google and Microsoft have announced changes to their search engines that will block links to child abuse images and videos.

Back in July, the Prime Minister said that he wanted to do more to protect our children online. But when it came to stopping search returns on child abuse, the search engine companies said nothing could be done. The Prime Minister disagreed, and for the last few months we have been pressing Google and Microsoft to make sure that it happens.

That is why internet search engine providers will today set out how they will take action to stop child abuse material from being available through a simple search online. This will include the introduction of new algorithms that will block child abuse images, videos and pathways that lead to illegal content, covering 100,000 unique searches on Google worldwide.

We are committed to stopping the availability of child abuse content, in the UK and across the world. If search engine providers are unable to deliver on their commitment to prevent child abuse material being returned from search terms used by paedophiles, we will bring forward legislation that will ensure it does happen.