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Technology companies and child protection agencies will receive authority to evaluate whether AI systems can generate child abuse material under new British legislation.

Substantial Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Content

The announcement coincided with findings from a protection monitoring body showing that cases of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Legal Structure

Under the changes, the government will allow designated AI developers and child protection organizations to inspect AI models – the foundational systems for chatbots and visual AI tools – and ensure they have sufficient protective measures to stop them from creating images of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about stopping exploitation before it occurs," stated Kanishka Narayan, noting: "Specialists, under strict conditions, can now detect the risk in AI models promptly."

Addressing Regulatory Obstacles

The changes have been implemented because it is against the law to create and own CSAM, meaning that AI developers and others cannot create such images as part of a evaluation regime. Previously, officials had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

This law is aimed at preventing that problem by enabling to halt the creation of those materials at their origin.

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being introduced by the government as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also establishing a ban on possessing, creating or distributing AI systems designed to generate exploitative content.

Real-World Impact

This week, the minister visited the London headquarters of Childline and heard a simulated conversation to advisors involving a report of AI-based abuse. The call depicted a adolescent requesting help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of themselves, constructed using AI.

"When I hear about young people facing extortion online, it is a source of extreme frustration in me and justified anger amongst families," he said.

Alarming Data

A prominent online safety organization stated that instances of AI-generated abuse material – such as online pages that may contain multiple images – had significantly increased so far this year.

Cases of the most severe material – the gravest form of abuse – rose from 2,621 visual files to 3,086.

• Female children were predominantly targeted, accounting for 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Portrayals of infants to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The law change could "constitute a vital step to ensure AI tools are safe before they are launched," commented the head of the online safety organization.

"Artificial intelligence systems have made it so victims can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving criminals the capability to create potentially endless quantities of sophisticated, photorealistic exploitative content," she added. "Material which additionally commodifies victims' trauma, and renders young people, especially girls, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Support Session Information

The children's helpline also released information of counselling interactions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related risks discussed in the conversations comprise:

• Employing AI to evaluate body size, body and looks
• AI assistants dissuading young people from consulting safe guardians about abuse
• Being bullied online with AI-generated material
• Digital extortion using AI-manipulated pictures

Between April and September this year, Childline conducted 367 counselling interactions where AI, chatbots and related terms were mentioned, significantly more as many as in the same period last year.

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