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Tech firms and child safety agencies will be granted authority to evaluate whether AI systems can generate child exploitation images under recently introduced British legislation.

Significant Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The declaration came as findings from a protection watchdog showing that reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the last twelve months, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Legal Structure

Under the changes, the authorities will permit approved AI companies and child safety groups to examine AI models – the foundational technology for chatbots and visual AI tools – and verify they have sufficient protective measures to stop them from creating depictions of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about preventing exploitation before it happens," stated Kanishka Narayan, adding: "Specialists, under strict conditions, can now identify the risk in AI systems early."

Tackling Legal Obstacles

The amendments have been introduced because it is illegal to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and others 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 law is aimed at preventing that problem by enabling to stop the creation of those images at their origin.

Legal Structure

The changes are being introduced by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also establishing a ban on owning, creating or sharing AI systems designed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Impact

This recently, the official visited the London base of Childline and heard a simulated call to advisors featuring a report of AI-based abuse. The call portrayed a teenager seeking help after facing extortion using a sexualised deepfake of himself, created using AI.

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

Alarming Data

A leading online safety foundation reported that instances of AI-generated abuse material – such as online pages that may contain multiple files – had significantly increased so far this year.

Cases of category A content – the gravest form of exploitation – increased from 2,621 visual files to 3,086.

• Girls were predominantly victimized, making up 94% of illegal AI images in 2025
• Portrayals of newborns to toddlers increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The legislative amendment could "constitute a vital step to ensure AI tools are safe before they are released," stated the head of the internet monitoring foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so survivors can be victimised all over again with just a simple actions, providing offenders the capability to make potentially limitless amounts of sophisticated, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Material which further exploits victims' trauma, and makes children, especially female children, less safe both online and offline."

Support Session Data

Childline also released details of counselling sessions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the conversations comprise:

• Employing AI to evaluate weight, body and looks
• AI assistants discouraging young people from consulting safe adults about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Digital blackmail using AI-manipulated images

During April and September this year, Childline conducted 367 support sessions where AI, conversational AI and related terms were discussed, significantly more as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to mental health and wellness, including utilizing chatbots for assistance and AI therapeutic apps.