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Technology companies and child safety agencies will receive permission to assess whether AI tools can generate child exploitation images under new UK legislation.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The announcement came as findings from a protection 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.

New Regulatory Framework

Under the changes, the authorities will allow approved AI developers and child protection organizations to examine AI systems – the underlying technology for conversational AI and visual AI tools – and ensure they have adequate safeguards to stop them from producing images of child exploitation.

"Fundamentally about stopping exploitation before it occurs," stated Kanishka Narayan, adding: "Experts, under rigorous conditions, can now identify the danger in AI systems early."

Addressing Legal Obstacles

The amendments have been implemented because it is against the law to create and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and other parties cannot generate such images as part of a testing regime. Until now, authorities had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before dealing with it.

This law is designed to averting that issue by enabling to stop the production of those images at their origin.

Legal Framework

The amendments are being added by the government as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on possessing, producing or distributing AI models designed to create exploitative content.

Real-World Consequences

This recently, the minister toured the London headquarters of Childline and heard a simulated call to advisors featuring a account of AI-based abuse. The interaction portrayed a adolescent seeking help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of himself, created using AI.

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

Alarming Statistics

A leading online safety organization stated that cases of AI-generated abuse material – such as webpages that may include multiple images – had significantly increased so far this year.

Cases of category A material – the gravest form of exploitation – rose from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

• Female children were overwhelmingly victimized, making up 94% of prohibited AI images in 2025
• Depictions of infants to toddlers increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Response

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

"AI tools have made it so survivors can be targeted repeatedly with just a simple actions, providing criminals the ability to create possibly endless quantities of advanced, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Content which further commodifies victims' suffering, and makes young people, especially girls, less safe on and off line."

Support Interaction Data

The children's helpline also released information of counselling sessions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related harms discussed in the conversations comprise:

• Employing AI to rate body size, physique and appearance
• AI assistants discouraging children from consulting safe guardians about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Digital extortion using AI-manipulated images

Between April and September this year, Childline delivered 367 counselling sessions where AI, conversational AI and associated topics were mentioned, significantly more as many as in the same period last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with mental health and wellbeing, encompassing utilizing chatbots for assistance and AI therapy apps.