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Technology companies and child safety agencies will be granted authority to assess whether artificial intelligence tools can generate child abuse images under recently introduced UK laws.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The announcement came as findings from a safety watchdog showing that reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the last twelve months, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Regulatory Structure

Under the changes, the government will allow designated AI developers and child protection groups to examine AI models – the foundational systems for conversational AI and visual AI tools – and verify they have adequate safeguards to stop them from creating images of child sexual abuse.

"Fundamentally about stopping abuse before it happens," stated the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Experts, under strict protocols, can now detect the danger in AI models early."

Addressing Legal Obstacles

The amendments have been implemented because it is against the law to produce and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and other parties cannot create such images as part of a testing process. Previously, officials had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

This legislation is aimed at preventing that problem by enabling to stop the production of those materials at their origin.

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being introduced by the authorities as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also establishing a prohibition on owning, producing or sharing AI systems developed to create child sexual abuse material.

Practical Impact

This recently, the official toured the London base of Childline and heard a mock-up conversation to advisors involving a report of AI-based abuse. The interaction depicted a teenager requesting help after facing extortion using a sexualised deepfake of himself, created using AI.

"When I learn about young people facing extortion online, it is a cause of extreme frustration in me and rightful anger amongst parents," he said.

Alarming Data

A leading internet monitoring foundation stated that instances of AI-generated abuse content – such as webpages that may include multiple images – had significantly increased so far this year.

Instances of the most severe content – the gravest form of exploitation – rose from 2,621 visual files to 3,086.

• Female children were predominantly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI images in 2025
• Portrayals of newborns to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Response

The legislative amendment could "represent a vital step to guarantee AI products are secure before they are released," stated the head of the online safety foundation.

"AI tools have enabled so survivors can be targeted repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving criminals the ability to create potentially endless amounts of advanced, photorealistic exploitative content," she continued. "Content which additionally commodifies victims' suffering, and renders children, particularly girls, less safe on and off line."

Support Interaction Information

Childline also published information of counselling interactions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related harms discussed in the conversations comprise:

• Employing AI to rate weight, physique and looks
• AI assistants discouraging children from consulting safe guardians about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Digital extortion using AI-manipulated pictures

During April and September this year, Childline conducted 367 support sessions where AI, conversational AI and related topics were discussed, significantly more as many as in the same period last year.

Fifty percent of the references of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including using chatbots for support and AI therapy applications.