Government to bar phones in nurseries and limit child photos after abuse scandal

In response to a harrowing incident in which a Bright Horizons employee recorded himself abusing children, the UK government is drafting guidance that will forbid personal phone use in playrooms and limit staff-taken photographs to a single image per child each day. Nurseries, childminders and visitors must rely on a single work-issued device equipped with nudity filters, and all images will require written parental permission outlining usage, sharing and deletion.

Monthly, supervisors will audit work devices for suspicious activity such as deleted files or unauthorized social-media logins. The policy also advises against posting children’s pictures on social media to prevent misuse by AI tools, and it calls for tighter controls on any CCTV footage. Experts warn that unchecked photo-taking poses risks of data leaks, distraction and exploitation by malicious actors. The guidance aims to strengthen safeguarding while balancing parents’ desire for updates on their children’s wellbeing.