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Technology companies and child safety agencies will be granted permission to assess whether artificial intelligence tools can produce child abuse images under new UK legislation.

Substantial Increase in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The declaration coincided with findings from a safety monitoring body showing that cases of AI-generated CSAM have more than doubled in the last twelve months, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Regulatory Framework

Under the changes, the authorities will permit approved AI developers and child protection organizations to examine AI models – the foundational technology for chatbots and image generators – and verify they have adequate protective measures to prevent them from producing images of child exploitation.

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

Tackling Legal Challenges

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

This legislation is aimed at averting that issue by helping to stop the creation of those materials at their origin.

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being introduced by the government as revisions to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a prohibition on possessing, producing or distributing AI systems developed to create child sexual abuse material.

Practical Impact

This week, the minister toured the London headquarters of Childline and listened to a simulated conversation to counsellors involving a account of AI-based exploitation. The call portrayed a adolescent seeking help after being blackmailed using a sexualised AI-generated image of themselves, created using AI.

"When I hear about young people facing blackmail online, it is a source of intense frustration in me and rightful anger amongst parents," he stated.

Concerning Data

A leading online safety foundation stated that cases of AI-generated abuse material – such as webpages that may include numerous images – had more than doubled so far this year.

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

• Girls were predominantly victimized, making up 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025
• Portrayals of infants to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Reaction

The law change could "constitute a crucial step to guarantee AI tools are safe before they are released," stated the head of the internet monitoring foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have made it so victims can be targeted repeatedly with just a simple actions, providing offenders the ability to make possibly endless quantities of sophisticated, photorealistic child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Material which further exploits victims' trauma, and renders young people, particularly girls, less safe on and off line."

Counseling Interaction Information

The children's helpline also released details of support interactions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related harms discussed in the sessions include:

• Using AI to evaluate weight, physique and looks
• Chatbots dissuading children from talking to trusted adults about abuse
• Being bullied online with AI-generated material
• Online extortion using AI-manipulated images

During April and September this year, Childline conducted 367 counselling sessions where AI, conversational AI and associated terms were discussed, significantly more as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, encompassing utilizing chatbots for support and AI therapy applications.