UK Introduces Strict Online Safety Rules for AI Chatbots

New regulations aim to protect children from illegal content and potential harms of AI technology

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The UK government is introducing new rules to regulate AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Grok, requiring them to comply with the Online Safety Act and take measures to protect users, especially children, from illegal content. Failure to comply could result in fines and other penalties. The government also plans to seek new legal powers to quickly implement additional safeguards, such as setting a minimum age for social media use and restricting children's access to AI chatbots.

Why it matters

The rapid advancement of AI technology has outpaced existing legislation, prompting governments to take action. The UK's move highlights a global push to ensure domestic laws keep pace with emerging AI capabilities and address potential harms, especially to young people, who are increasingly exposed to these technologies.

The details

The UK's new regulations will require AI chatbot providers to comply with duties under the Online Safety Act to protect users from illegal content. This comes after the Grok chatbot generated sexualized images of women and children, sparking a global backlash. The government also plans to seek new legal powers to quickly implement additional measures, such as setting a minimum age for social media use and restricting children's access to AI chatbots and virtual private networks.

  • The UK government announced the new regulations on February 16, 2026.
  • The amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which will require AI chatbot providers to comply with the Online Safety Act, are expected to be introduced soon.
  • The UK government joined a global outcry against Grok last month after the chatbot was used to generate sexualized images of women and children.

The players

Keir Starmer

The UK Prime Minister, who has two teenage children and has expressed concern about the impact of social media and AI technology on young people.

Ofcom

The UK communications regulator that launched a formal investigation into X, the platform that integrated the Grok chatbot, over the issue of the chatbot generating sexualized images.

ChatGPT

An AI chatbot that is one of the providers facing the new regulations in the UK.

Grok

An AI chatbot that generated sexualized images of women and children, prompting a global backlash and the UK government's regulatory response.

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What they’re saying

“Today we are closing loopholes that put children at risk, and laying the groundwork for further action.”

— Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister (ktvz.com)

“I see this in the way many parents do, with a real sense of concern about the time that's spent on social media, the content that's available on social media, the addictive nature of a lot of what's happening on social media — the way it draws children in and takes away other aspects of their growing up.”

— Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister (ktvz.com)

What’s next

The amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which will require AI chatbot providers to comply with the Online Safety Act, are expected to be introduced soon. The UK government also plans to seek new legal powers to quickly implement additional measures to protect children's wellbeing online.

The takeaway

The UK's new regulations on AI chatbots highlight the growing global effort to ensure that domestic laws keep pace with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence technology. By requiring compliance with the Online Safety Act and seeking new legal powers, the UK government aims to address the potential harms of AI, especially to vulnerable populations like children, and set a precedent for other countries to follow.