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Technology companies and child safety organizations will be granted permission to assess whether AI systems can produce child exploitation images under recently introduced UK laws.

Significant Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The announcement came as findings from a safety monitoring body showing that reports of AI-generated CSAM 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 allow approved AI companies and child safety groups to examine AI systems – the foundational systems for chatbots and visual AI tools – and ensure they have sufficient protective measures to stop them from producing images of child exploitation.

"Fundamentally about stopping abuse before it happens," stated Kanishka Narayan, adding: "Specialists, under strict protocols, can now detect the risk in AI systems promptly."

Tackling Regulatory Challenges

The amendments have been implemented 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 evaluation process. Until now, officials had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before dealing with it.

This legislation is aimed at preventing that problem by enabling to stop the creation of those materials at their origin.

Legislative Structure

The amendments are being added by the government as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also establishing a prohibition on possessing, creating or sharing AI systems designed to create exploitative content.

Real-World Consequences

This recently, the minister toured the London base of Childline and heard a simulated conversation to counsellors featuring a account of AI-based exploitation. The call portrayed a adolescent requesting help after facing extortion using a sexualised AI-generated image of themselves, constructed using AI.

"When I hear about children facing blackmail online, it is a cause of intense anger in me and justified anger amongst families," he said.

Concerning Data

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

Cases of the most severe material – the most serious form of exploitation – rose from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

• Female children were predominantly targeted, making up 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Portrayals of infants to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The legislative amendment could "constitute 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 enabled so victims can be targeted all over again with just a few clicks, providing criminals the capability to create potentially endless amounts of advanced, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she added. "Content which additionally commodifies survivors' suffering, and makes children, especially girls, less safe both online and offline."

Support Session Data

The children's helpline also released information of counselling interactions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the conversations include:

• Using AI to rate weight, body and looks
• AI assistants dissuading children from talking to safe guardians about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Online blackmail using AI-faked 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.

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