Ofcom has announced tougher measures aimed at stopping the spread of non-consensual intimate images and AI-generated deepfake abuse online, as the UK regulator pushes tech companies to strengthen user safety protections.

The updated guidance, released Monday, will require platforms to do more to identify, detect, and remove illegal intimate content shared without consent. The changes are part of Ofcom’s strengthened Illegal Content Codes under the UK’s Online Safety Act and are expected to come into force in autumn 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.

At the centre of the updated rules is the growing concern over deepfake intimate images, including AI-generated nude content and man...