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Technology companies and child protection agencies will receive authority to assess whether AI tools can produce child exploitation material under recently introduced UK laws.

Significant Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The declaration coincided with findings from a safety watchdog showing that cases of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the past year, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Regulatory Framework

Under the amendments, the authorities will allow approved AI companies and child protection organizations to examine AI systems – the foundational technology for chatbots and image generators – and ensure they have adequate protective measures to prevent them from creating depictions of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about preventing exploitation before it occurs," declared the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Experts, under rigorous protocols, can now detect the risk in AI models early."

Addressing Regulatory Challenges

The changes have been implemented because it is illegal to create and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and others cannot create such content as part of a testing regime. Until now, officials had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

This law is designed to averting that issue by helping to halt the production of those images at their origin.

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being introduced by the authorities as revisions to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on possessing, producing or distributing AI systems developed to create exploitative content.

Real-World Impact

This week, the official toured the London headquarters of a children's helpline and listened to a mock-up call to advisors featuring a report of AI-based exploitation. The interaction portrayed a teenager requesting help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of himself, created using AI.

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

Alarming Statistics

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

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

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

Sector Reaction

The legislative amendment could "constitute a crucial step to ensure AI tools are secure before they are released," stated the chief executive of the online safety foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so victims can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving criminals the ability to make potentially endless amounts of advanced, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she added. "Content which additionally commodifies victims' trauma, and makes young people, especially girls, less safe on and off line."

Support Interaction Data

Childline also released details of counselling interactions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the conversations include:

• Employing AI to evaluate body size, body and appearance
• Chatbots dissuading young people from consulting trusted guardians about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Online extortion using AI-faked images

Between April and September this year, the helpline conducted 367 support sessions where AI, chatbots and related terms were discussed, four times as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to mental health and wellness, including using chatbots for support and AI therapy applications.