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Technology companies and child protection agencies will be granted permission to assess whether artificial intelligence systems can produce child abuse material under recently introduced British laws.

Significant Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Content

The declaration coincided with findings from a safety monitoring body showing that cases of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have increased dramatically in the last twelve months, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Legal Structure

Under the amendments, the government will permit designated AI companies and child safety organizations to examine AI systems – the foundational technology for chatbots and image generators – and verify they have sufficient protective measures to prevent them from producing images of child sexual abuse.

"Fundamentally about preventing abuse before it occurs," declared the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Specialists, under rigorous protocols, can now identify the risk in AI models promptly."

Addressing Regulatory Obstacles

The amendments have been implemented because it is illegal to produce and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and other parties cannot generate such content as part of a evaluation regime. Previously, 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 halt the production of those materials at their origin.

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being added by the government as revisions to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on possessing, creating or sharing AI systems designed to generate exploitative content.

Practical Consequences

This recently, the official toured the London headquarters of Childline and heard a mock-up conversation to counsellors featuring a report of AI-based exploitation. The call depicted a adolescent seeking help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of themselves, created using AI.

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

Alarming Data

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

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

• Female children were predominantly targeted, making up 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of newborns to toddlers increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The law change could "constitute a crucial step to guarantee AI products are secure before they are launched," stated the head of the online safety foundation.

"AI tools have made it so survivors can be targeted repeatedly with just a few clicks, providing criminals the ability to create potentially limitless amounts of advanced, photorealistic child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Content which further exploits survivors' trauma, and makes young people, particularly girls, less safe both online and offline."

Counseling Interaction Data

The children's helpline also published information of counselling interactions where AI has been referenced. AI-related harms discussed in the conversations comprise:

• Using AI to evaluate weight, physique and looks
• AI assistants dissuading children from talking to safe guardians about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Online blackmail using AI-faked pictures

During April and September this year, Childline delivered 367 support interactions where AI, chatbots and related topics were discussed, significantly more as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with mental health and wellbeing, including utilizing chatbots for assistance and AI therapeutic apps.