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Tech firms and child protection agencies will be granted authority to assess whether AI systems can generate child exploitation material under new UK laws.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The declaration came as findings from a safety monitoring body showing that reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have increased dramatically in the past year, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Regulatory Framework

Under the changes, the government will allow designated AI companies and child safety groups to examine AI systems – the foundational technology for conversational AI and image generators – and ensure they have sufficient safeguards to stop them from producing depictions of child exploitation.

"Ultimately about stopping exploitation before it occurs," stated the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Specialists, under rigorous protocols, can now identify the risk in AI models promptly."

Addressing Legal Obstacles

The changes have been introduced because it is against the law to produce and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and other parties cannot generate such content as part of a testing process. Previously, officials had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was published online before addressing it.

This legislation is designed to averting that issue by helping to stop the production of those images at source.

Legal Framework

The changes are being added by the authorities as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on owning, creating or distributing AI models developed to generate exploitative content.

Practical Consequences

This recently, the official visited the London headquarters of Childline and heard a mock-up conversation to counsellors featuring a account of AI-based exploitation. The call depicted a adolescent requesting help after being blackmailed using a sexualised AI-generated image of themselves, constructed using AI.

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

Concerning Data

A leading online safety foundation reported that cases of AI-generated abuse material – such as online pages that may include numerous files – had significantly increased so far this year.

Instances of category A content – the gravest form of exploitation – rose from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

• Girls were predominantly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI images in 2025
• Depictions of newborns to two-year-olds rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Response

The legislative amendment could "represent a crucial step to guarantee AI tools are safe before they are launched," stated the head of the internet monitoring foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have made it so victims can be victimised all over again with just a simple actions, providing offenders the ability to create potentially endless amounts of sophisticated, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Content which further exploits survivors' suffering, and renders young people, especially female children, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Counseling Session Information

The children's helpline also published information of support sessions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the sessions comprise:

• Using AI to evaluate body size, body and looks
• AI assistants discouraging young people from consulting trusted guardians about harm
• Being bullied online with AI-generated material
• Online blackmail using AI-manipulated images

Between April and September this year, Childline delivered 367 support interactions where AI, conversational AI and related terms were discussed, significantly more as many as in the same period last year.

Fifty percent of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were connected with mental health and wellbeing, encompassing using chatbots for assistance and AI therapeutic applications.