The UK government announces a £1 billion strategy targeting online abuse, non-consensual explicit images, and misogyny, emphasising prevention, legal reform, and support services amid calls for adequate funding.
The UK government has unveiled a £1 billion strategy aimed at preventing violence against women and girls, with a particular focus on protecting young people online and curbing the use of emerging artificial intelligence tools that create non-consensual explicit images. According to the announcement on GOV.UK, the package includes measures to ban so-called “nudification” apps, introduce smartphone filters to stop children taking, sharing or viewing explicit images, and invest in education and support services. [2][1]
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips told The Mirror the initiative represents a shift from treating symptoms to addressing root causes, saying “For too long, on violence against women and girls, we have treated the symptoms and not the cause. No more.” She argued the prevention measures will “save the lives of our next generation of girls, by steering young people away from harmful influences and addressing dangerous attitudes and behaviours head-on.” [1]
The government said it will work with technology companies to develop nudity-detection filters for devices so that, it claims, children in the UK will be prevented from creating, sharing or viewing explicit images on their phones. The plan also proposes outlawing apps that use generative AI to produce explicit images of real people without consent, measures the government describes as necessary to prevent technology being “weaponised to abuse, humiliate and exploit” women and girls. [2][1]
Industry and campaigners have underlined the scale of the problem the measures seek to tackle. Research cited in coverage shows millions accessed nudification services in recent periods and that the vast majority of sexual deepfakes disproportionately feature women, a trend ministers say the new rules will confront. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said those who profit from such software will “face the full force of the law.” [1]
Legal and regulatory reform is anticipated alongside the strategy. Reporting by The Guardian has outlined possible legislative routes, including amendments to product safety law and new AI-specific legislation, to make ownership, distribution and even the creation of AI tools designed to fabricate sexual imagery illegal; other coverage indicates tougher penalties for AI-enabled child sexual abuse imagery are being developed, with prison terms possible for offenders. These proposals aim to close current loopholes that have allowed harmful tools to proliferate. [3][4]
The strategy pairs technology interventions with prevention and education. According to the government, schools will receive specialist training to address misogyny and teach healthy relationships, while funding is allocated for police capabilities to use advanced forensic techniques to reopen cold cases and pursue perpetrators. The VAWG strategy also earmarks up to £50 million for NHS services supporting survivors of sexual violence and abuse. [2][1]
Campaigners and service providers welcomed elements of the package but warned implementation risks being undermined by persistent underfunding. Gemma Sherrington, chief executive of Refuge, said she welcomed the cross-government approach but cautioned that “encouraging survivors to come forward must be matched by the capacity of services to respond,” adding that existing services are “stretched beyond capacity.” Women’s Aid described the strategy as “commendable” but similarly warned of additional strain on battered services unless funding gaps are closed. [1][5]
Local and international initiatives will complement the national strategy. The Mayor of London’s office has separately announced additional local funding for grassroots organisations tackling violence against women and girls, while the UK has also helped launch an international coalition called “All In” to coordinate global efforts against online and offline abuse. Government materials portray the combined moves as part of a broader public-health approach to changing culture and holding perpetrators to account. [6][7]
📌 Reference Map:
##Reference Map:
- [1] (Birmingham Mail / The Mirror) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 4, Paragraph 6, Paragraph 7
- [2] (GOV.UK) – Paragraph 1, Paragraph 3, Paragraph 6
- [3] (The Guardian) – Paragraph 5
- [4] (The Guardian) – Paragraph 5
- [5] (The Guardian) – Paragraph 7
- [6] (Mayor of London press release) – Paragraph 8
- [7] (GOV.UK international coalition) – Paragraph 8
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments, with the earliest known publication date being 15 December 2025. The strategy was announced on GOV.UK on that date, detailing measures to prevent violence against women and girls, including banning ‘nudification’ apps and introducing smartphone filters. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-1-billion-for-victims-of-domestic-abuse-to-access-support-and-rebuild-their-lives?utm_source=openai)) The Birmingham Mail article, dated 1 January 2026, provides additional coverage, indicating the narrative’s freshness. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/80-million-to-stop-violence-against-women-and-girls?utm_source=openai)) No evidence of recycled content or republishing across low-quality sites was found. The narrative is based on a press release from GOV.UK, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
Direct quotes from Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall are present. The earliest known usage of these quotes is in the GOV.UK press release dated 15 December 2025. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-1-billion-for-victims-of-domestic-abuse-to-access-support-and-rebuild-their-lives?utm_source=openai)) No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating originality. No variations in quote wording were found.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable sources: the Birmingham Mail, a well-established UK newspaper, and GOV.UK, the official website of the UK government. The Birmingham Mail article references the GOV.UK press release, enhancing credibility. All individuals and organisations mentioned, including Jess Phillips and Liz Kendall, have verifiable public presences and legitimate websites.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative’s claims align with recent government initiatives and statements. The £1 billion strategy to prevent violence against women and girls was announced on 15 December 2025, detailing measures such as banning ‘nudification’ apps and introducing smartphone filters. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-1-billion-for-victims-of-domestic-abuse-to-access-support-and-rebuild-their-lives?utm_source=openai)) The quotes from Jess Phillips and Liz Kendall are consistent with their known positions and recent statements. The language and tone are appropriate for the topic and region. The narrative includes specific factual anchors, such as dates, names, and institutions, supporting its plausibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from reputable outlets. It accurately reflects recent government actions and statements regarding the £1 billion strategy to prevent violence against women and girls. No discrepancies or signs of disinformation were identified.
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