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Technology companies and child protection organizations will be granted permission to assess whether AI systems can produce child abuse material under recently introduced UK legislation.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The announcement coincided with findings from a protection watchdog showing that reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have increased dramatically in the last twelve months, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Regulatory Structure

Under the changes, the government will allow approved AI developers and child safety organizations to inspect AI systems – the foundational systems for chatbots and image generators – and ensure they have adequate protective measures to stop them from producing depictions of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about preventing exploitation before it occurs," stated the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Specialists, under rigorous protocols, can now detect the risk in AI models early."

Addressing Regulatory Challenges

The amendments have been introduced because it is illegal to create and possess CSAM, meaning that AI creators and other parties cannot generate such images as part of a testing process. Until now, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

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

Legislative Framework

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

Real-World Impact

This recently, the official toured the London headquarters of Childline and listened to a mock-up conversation to advisors involving a report of AI-based abuse. The call portrayed a adolescent seeking help after being blackmailed using a sexualised deepfake of themselves, created using AI.

"When I hear about young people experiencing extortion online, it is a cause of intense anger in me and rightful anger amongst families," he said.

Alarming Statistics

A prominent internet monitoring organization reported that cases of AI-generated abuse material – such as webpages that may contain numerous files – had significantly increased so far this year.

Instances of category A content – the gravest form of abuse – rose from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

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

Industry Reaction

The law change could "represent a vital step to guarantee AI products are safe before they are released," stated the head of the online safety organization.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so victims can be victimised repeatedly with just a simple actions, providing offenders the ability to create potentially limitless quantities of sophisticated, lifelike exploitative content," she continued. "Material which further exploits survivors' suffering, and makes children, particularly female children, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Counseling Interaction Information

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

• Using AI to evaluate weight, body and looks
• AI assistants discouraging children from consulting trusted guardians about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Digital blackmail using AI-manipulated pictures

Between April and September this year, the helpline delivered 367 counselling sessions where AI, chatbots and associated terms were mentioned, four times as many as in the same period last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 sessions were connected with mental health and wellness, encompassing using chatbots for assistance and AI therapy apps.