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Technology companies and child safety organizations will be granted authority to evaluate whether artificial intelligence systems can generate child exploitation images under new British laws.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Content

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

New Regulatory Framework

Under the amendments, the government will allow approved 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 producing images of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about stopping abuse before it happens," declared the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Specialists, under strict protocols, can now detect the danger in AI models promptly."

Tackling Regulatory Obstacles

The amendments have been implemented because it is illegal to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and other parties cannot generate such images as part of a testing process. Previously, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before addressing it.

This law is designed to averting that problem by enabling to halt the production of those images at source.

Legal Structure

The changes are being introduced by the authorities as revisions to the crime and policing bill, which is also establishing a ban on possessing, producing or sharing AI models developed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Consequences

This week, the official toured the London base of Childline and heard a simulated conversation to counsellors featuring a report of AI-based exploitation. The interaction portrayed a teenager requesting help after facing extortion using a explicit AI-generated image of themselves, created using AI.

"When I hear about young people facing extortion online, it is a cause of extreme frustration in me and rightful concern amongst families," he stated.

Concerning Statistics

A prominent internet monitoring organization reported that cases of AI-generated abuse material – such as webpages that may include numerous images – had more than doubled so far this year.

Instances of the most severe material – the gravest form of abuse – rose from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

• Girls were overwhelmingly targeted, accounting for 94% of illegal AI images in 2025
• Depictions of infants to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Reaction

The law change could "constitute a crucial step to ensure AI tools are secure before they are released," commented the head of the online safety foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so victims can be targeted repeatedly with just a simple actions, giving criminals the capability to make potentially endless quantities of sophisticated, photorealistic exploitative content," she continued. "Material which additionally commodifies victims' trauma, and renders children, particularly female children, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Counseling Session Information

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

• Using AI to evaluate weight, physique and appearance
• AI assistants dissuading young people from talking to trusted adults about abuse
• Being bullied online with AI-generated content
• Digital blackmail using AI-faked images

During April and September this year, Childline delivered 367 counselling sessions where AI, chatbots and related topics were mentioned, four times 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 using chatbots for assistance and AI therapy apps.