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Tech firms and child protection organizations will be granted permission to assess whether AI systems can produce child abuse images under recently introduced UK legislation.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Content

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 designated AI developers and child safety groups to examine AI models – the underlying technology for conversational AI and visual AI tools – and ensure they have adequate protective measures to prevent them from creating images of child sexual abuse.

"Fundamentally about stopping exploitation before it occurs," declared Kanishka Narayan, noting: "Specialists, under rigorous protocols, can now identify the danger in AI models promptly."

Addressing Legal Challenges

The amendments 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 process. Until now, officials had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before dealing with it.

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

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being introduced by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also establishing a prohibition on possessing, creating or distributing AI models designed to create child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Consequences

This recently, the official toured the London base of Childline and heard a simulated call to counsellors featuring a report of AI-based exploitation. The call depicted a adolescent requesting help after facing extortion using a sexualised deepfake of himself, created using AI.

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

Concerning Statistics

A prominent internet monitoring foundation reported that cases of AI-generated exploitation material – such as online pages that may contain multiple files – had more than doubled so far this year.

Instances of the most severe material – the most serious form of abuse – rose from 2,621 visual files to 3,086.

• Girls were overwhelmingly targeted, making up 94% of prohibited AI images in 2025
• Portrayals of infants to toddlers increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Response

The legislative amendment could "represent a crucial step to guarantee AI products are secure before they are launched," commented the chief executive of the internet monitoring organization.

"AI tools have enabled so victims can be victimised all over again with just a simple actions, providing offenders the capability to make potentially endless quantities of advanced, photorealistic child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Material which additionally commodifies victims' suffering, and makes children, particularly girls, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Support Session Data

Childline also released details of counselling interactions where AI has been referenced. AI-related harms mentioned in the sessions include:

• Employing AI to rate body size, physique and appearance
• AI assistants discouraging children from consulting trusted guardians about abuse
• Being bullied online with AI-generated content
• Digital extortion using AI-manipulated pictures

During April and September this year, Childline delivered 367 counselling interactions where AI, chatbots and associated terms were discussed, four times as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to psychological wellbeing and wellness, encompassing using chatbots for support and AI therapeutic apps.