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Tech firms and child protection agencies will be granted authority to assess whether artificial intelligence systems can generate child abuse images under new British laws.

Substantial Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The declaration coincided with findings from a safety monitoring body showing that cases of AI-generated CSAM have increased dramatically in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Legal Structure

Under the amendments, the authorities will allow approved AI companies and child safety organizations to inspect AI systems – the underlying systems for conversational AI and visual AI tools – and verify they have sufficient protective measures to prevent them from producing images of child exploitation.

"Ultimately about preventing exploitation before it happens," stated Kanishka Narayan, adding: "Experts, under strict conditions, can now identify the danger in AI systems early."

Tackling Legal Obstacles

The changes have been introduced because it is against the law to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and other parties cannot generate such content as part of a testing regime. Until now, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

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

Legislative Framework

The changes are being added by the government as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a prohibition on possessing, creating or distributing AI systems designed to generate exploitative content.

Practical Consequences

This week, the official visited the London headquarters of Childline and listened to a mock-up conversation to counsellors featuring a account of AI-based exploitation. The call depicted a adolescent seeking 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 source of extreme frustration in me and rightful concern amongst families," he stated.

Alarming Data

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

Instances of category A content – 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
• Depictions of newborns to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Response

The legislative amendment could "constitute a vital step to guarantee AI tools are secure before they are launched," commented the head of the online safety foundation.

"AI tools have enabled so survivors can be targeted repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving offenders the ability to create possibly limitless amounts of advanced, photorealistic child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Content which additionally commodifies victims' trauma, and makes children, particularly girls, more vulnerable on and off line."

Counseling Session Information

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

• Using AI to rate weight, body and appearance
• Chatbots dissuading young people from consulting safe guardians about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Online blackmail using AI-faked images

During April and September this year, the helpline conducted 367 counselling sessions where AI, chatbots and associated topics were mentioned, four times as many as in the same period last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including using AI assistants for support and AI therapeutic apps.