71 Response Not Accepted Self-assessed

Pre-screen material before upload

Recommendation

The government should require industry to pre-screen material before it is uploaded to the internet to prevent access to known indecent images of children.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report (4 May 2022), the UK government did not accept this recommendation, stating that it launched the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in November 2020, alongside the US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. According to the Government response to IICSA’s Accountability and Reparations Report, these principles, along with an interim code of practice, set out the expectation for companies to prevent access to known child sexual abuse material, which includes pre-screening. According to the available evidence, a draft Online Safety Bill was published on 12 May 2021.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Section Reference
F
Response
Not Accepted
Not Accepted UK Government
22 May 2023

On 10 November 2020, the UK government stated that it had launched the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse alongside the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The interim code of practice on tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation and the Voluntary Principles set out the UK government's expectation that all companies will prevent access to known child sexual abuse material, which includes pre-screening. On 12 May 2021, the UK government published a draft Online Safety Bill. The Bill includes a clause that imposes duties on regulated search services with regards to illegal content, including child sexual abuse and exploitation material. The clause requires service providers to have proportionate systems and processes to minimise the risk of users encountering illegal content on their services, because they have been alerted to it or they become aware of it in some other way. A second Inquiry recommendation on pre-screening images online was made (see row 72).

Read Full Response
Source
Inquiry IICSA
Report The Internet Investigation Report 31 Mar 2020
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Recommendation age 6.0 yrs
Last formal update 1037 days ago