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Technology companies and child safety agencies will receive authority to assess whether artificial intelligence systems can generate child abuse images under new UK legislation.

Substantial Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Content

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

Updated Legal Framework

Under the amendments, the government will permit designated AI developers and child safety organizations to examine AI models – the underlying technology for chatbots and visual AI tools – and verify they have adequate protective measures to prevent them from producing images of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about stopping abuse before it occurs," stated the minister for AI and online safety, adding: "Experts, under rigorous conditions, can now identify the danger in AI systems early."

Addressing Legal Obstacles

The amendments have been introduced because it is against the law to create and own CSAM, meaning that AI developers and others cannot create such content as part of a testing regime. Until now, officials had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

This legislation is aimed at averting that issue by helping to stop the creation of those images at source.

Legal Framework

The amendments are being introduced by the authorities as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on possessing, producing or sharing AI systems developed to generate exploitative content.

Practical Consequences

This recently, the minister visited the London headquarters of a children's helpline and heard a simulated call to counsellors featuring a report of AI-based abuse. The interaction portrayed a teenager requesting help after facing extortion using a sexualised deepfake of himself, created using AI.

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

Alarming Statistics

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

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

• Girls were predominantly targeted, accounting for 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Portrayals of infants to toddlers increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Reaction

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

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so victims can be targeted all over again with just a few clicks, giving offenders the ability to create possibly limitless amounts of advanced, lifelike exploitative content," she continued. "Content which additionally commodifies victims' suffering, and renders young people, especially female children, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Counseling Session Data

The children's helpline also published details of support sessions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the sessions include:

• Using AI to rate weight, body and appearance
• Chatbots discouraging young people from consulting safe adults about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Digital extortion using AI-manipulated pictures

Between April and September this year, the helpline conducted 367 counselling interactions where AI, chatbots and related topics were mentioned, four times as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including using AI assistants for support and AI therapeutic applications.