🔗 Share this article

Technology companies and child safety organizations will be granted permission to assess whether AI systems can produce child abuse images under recently introduced British legislation.

Significant Rise in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The announcement came as findings from a safety watchdog showing that reports of AI-generated CSAM have increased dramatically in the last twelve months, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Legal Structure

Under the changes, the government will allow designated AI developers and child protection organizations to examine AI models – the underlying technology for chatbots and image generators – and ensure they have adequate protective measures to stop them from creating images of child sexual abuse.

"Fundamentally about stopping abuse before it occurs," stated the minister for AI and online safety, adding: "Specialists, under rigorous protocols, can now detect the risk in AI systems early."

Tackling Legal Challenges

The changes have been implemented because it is illegal to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and other parties cannot create 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 designed to averting that issue by helping to halt the creation of those materials at their origin.

Legal Structure

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

Real-World Impact

This recently, the minister toured the London headquarters of Childline and heard a simulated call to counsellors featuring a report of AI-based abuse. The interaction depicted a adolescent seeking help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of themselves, constructed using AI.

"When I hear about children facing extortion online, it is a source of extreme anger in me and rightful concern amongst parents," he said.

Concerning Statistics

A prominent online safety foundation stated that cases of AI-generated exploitation content – such as webpages that may include multiple files – had more than doubled so far this year.

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

• Female children were overwhelmingly targeted, accounting for 94% of prohibited AI images in 2025
• Depictions of infants to two-year-olds rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Response

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

"Artificial intelligence systems have made it so survivors can be targeted all over again with just a simple actions, providing criminals the ability to create potentially endless quantities of advanced, photorealistic exploitative content," she continued. "Material which further commodifies survivors' trauma, and renders children, especially girls, more vulnerable on and off line."

Counseling Session Information

The children's helpline also released information of support sessions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the conversations comprise:

• Employing AI to rate body size, physique and appearance
• Chatbots discouraging young people from consulting trusted guardians about harm
• Being bullied online with AI-generated content
• Digital blackmail using AI-manipulated pictures

During April and September this year, the helpline delivered 367 counselling sessions where AI, chatbots and related terms were mentioned, 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, encompassing utilizing AI assistants for assistance and AI therapeutic apps.