Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, welcomed what he said was “an important step forward for child protection”.
However, he criticised government communication around the announcement, alongside one of a potential ban on social media for young people.
“Number 10 needs to start urgently listening to experts and the evidence, rather than rush out hurried announcements for short-term expediency that will quickly unravel and continue to let tech firms off the hook for preventable harm,” he said.
Following a national consultation, the UK is moving closer to restrictions on under-16s’ social media use, with ministers consulting on measures ranging from age limits to bans on addictive platform features.
Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, said: “Protecting children online is vital, but these are outrageous plans that will fail to address the underlying causes of online harm.”
“Put simply, the Labour government is threatening ID checks for the internet. No-one in a democracy should need to show their passport just to get online.”
Likewise, Open Rights Group have spoken of their concern of the infrastructure being expanded.
“This would turn every phone into a surveillance device,” said Platform Power Programme Manager James Baker.
The government denies that the move would amount to surveillance.
However, Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, said it strongly supported the move, adding, “Time is up for big tech”.
“Now government must focus on holding them to account to ensure this transformational change for young people’s safety is quickly delivered,” he said.
Labour MP Jess Phillips resigned as safeguarding minister at the Home Office earlier this year, accusing Sir Keir of being slow to threaten legislation on preventing children taking naked images of themselves, despite the technology being available.
Additional reporting by Chris Vallance, Liv McMahon and Laura Cress
