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Tech firms and child safety agencies will be granted authority to evaluate whether artificial intelligence tools can produce child abuse material under recently introduced UK laws.

Substantial Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Content

The declaration came as findings from a safety monitoring body showing that cases of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have increased dramatically in the past year, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Legal Framework

Under the amendments, the authorities will allow approved AI companies and child safety groups to inspect AI systems – the foundational systems for conversational AI and image generators – and ensure they have adequate protective measures to stop them from creating depictions of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about stopping abuse before it occurs," declared Kanishka Narayan, adding: "Specialists, under strict protocols, can now detect the danger in AI models promptly."

Addressing Regulatory Challenges

The changes have been implemented because it is illegal to create and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and others cannot generate such images as part of a evaluation regime. Until now, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

This legislation is aimed at preventing that issue by helping to halt the production of those materials at their origin.

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being introduced by the government as revisions to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a prohibition on possessing, creating or distributing AI models developed to create exploitative content.

Real-World Consequences

This week, the official visited the London base of Childline and listened to a simulated conversation to advisors featuring a account of AI-based abuse. The call portrayed a adolescent requesting help after facing extortion using a sexualised deepfake of themselves, constructed using AI.

"When I hear about young people experiencing blackmail online, it is a cause of intense frustration in me and justified anger amongst parents," he stated.

Concerning Data

A prominent online safety foundation reported that cases of AI-generated exploitation material – such as webpages that may contain numerous files – had significantly increased so far this year.

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

• Girls were predominantly victimized, making up 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of newborns to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

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

"AI tools have made it so survivors can be targeted repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving offenders the capability to create potentially endless quantities of sophisticated, lifelike exploitative content," she added. "Content which further commodifies victims' trauma, and makes young people, especially female children, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Counseling Interaction Data

Childline also released details of counselling sessions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related risks discussed in the sessions include:

• Employing AI to rate body size, body and appearance
• Chatbots dissuading children from talking to trusted adults about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Online blackmail using AI-faked pictures

Between April and September this year, Childline conducted 367 counselling sessions where AI, chatbots 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 connected with mental health and wellbeing, including using chatbots for support and AI therapeutic apps.