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Tech firms and child protection organizations will receive authority to assess whether artificial intelligence tools can produce child abuse images under new UK laws.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The declaration came as findings from a protection watchdog 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 Legal Structure

Under the changes, the government will permit approved AI companies and child safety groups to inspect AI models – the underlying technology for chatbots and visual AI tools – and ensure they have adequate protective measures to prevent them from producing depictions of child exploitation.

"Fundamentally about stopping exploitation before it occurs," declared Kanishka Narayan, adding: "Specialists, under strict conditions, can now identify the danger in AI systems early."

Tackling Regulatory Obstacles

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

This law is aimed at averting that problem by helping to stop the creation of those materials at source.

Legal Structure

The changes are being added by the authorities as revisions to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on owning, producing or sharing AI systems developed to create exploitative content.

Real-World Impact

This recently, the official toured the London base of Childline and heard a simulated conversation to counsellors featuring a account of AI-based exploitation. The interaction portrayed a teenager requesting help after facing extortion using a sexualised deepfake of themselves, created using AI.

"When I learn about children experiencing extortion online, it is a cause of intense frustration in me and justified concern amongst parents," he said.

Concerning Data

A prominent online safety organization reported that cases of AI-generated abuse content – such as webpages that may include multiple images – had more than doubled so far this year.

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

• Girls were predominantly targeted, accounting for 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of newborns to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Response

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

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so survivors can be victimised all over again with just a few clicks, giving offenders the ability to create possibly endless quantities of advanced, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Material which further commodifies survivors' suffering, and makes young people, especially girls, less safe both online and offline."

Counseling Interaction Data

Childline also published information of support interactions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related harms mentioned in the sessions comprise:

• Employing AI to rate body size, body and looks
• AI assistants dissuading young people from talking to trusted adults about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Digital extortion using AI-manipulated pictures

Between April and September this year, the helpline conducted 367 counselling sessions where AI, chatbots and related topics were discussed, significantly more as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Fifty percent of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were connected with psychological wellbeing and wellness, encompassing using chatbots for assistance and AI therapy apps.