Crackdown on tech platforms will go ahead despite US intervention, says No 10

US embassy came out against UK’s proposed under-16 social media ban, which would affect American firms

White House displeasure over the prospect of an under-16 social media ban will not deter the UK from cracking down on tech platforms, the British government has said.

The technology secretary, Liz Kendall, told the Guardian she was not concerned “in the slightest” by the Trump administration’s intervention in the debate over restrictions, after the US embassy in London posted a notice warning against a ban.

Kendall added that three-quarters of respondents to a government poll supported an under-16 ban.

Kendall said she was “very happy to read any submission anybody makes” but her priority was “British young people”. Kendall denied there was any tension between seeking investment into the UK from US AI companies and implementing regulations that affect major American tech firms.

“I think companies will continue investing in Britain,” she said.

“My focus is on what is right for British parents and British families,” Kendall added.

The government is set to announce some form of social media ban for under-16s next week, alongside other restrictions such as a possible block on conversations with strangers on gaming platforms. Limits on AI chatbot use are also under consideration.