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Technology companies and child protection organizations will be granted authority to assess whether AI systems can produce child abuse images under new British legislation.

Significant Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The declaration coincided with findings from a safety watchdog showing that cases of AI-generated CSAM have more than doubled in the past year, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Regulatory Structure

Under the amendments, the government will permit designated AI developers and child safety groups to inspect AI models – the foundational technology for conversational AI and image generators – and verify they have sufficient safeguards to stop them from producing images of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about preventing exploitation before it occurs," stated Kanishka Narayan, adding: "Experts, under strict protocols, can now identify the danger in AI systems promptly."

Tackling Regulatory Obstacles

The amendments have been implemented because it is illegal to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI developers and others cannot create such content as part of a testing regime. Until now, officials had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was published online before addressing it.

This law is designed to preventing that problem by helping to stop the creation of those images at source.

Legislative Framework

The changes are being introduced by the authorities as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a prohibition on owning, creating or distributing AI systems developed to create exploitative content.

Practical Impact

This recently, the minister toured the London base of Childline and listened to a simulated conversation to counsellors involving a report of AI-based abuse. The call depicted a adolescent seeking help after facing extortion using a explicit deepfake of themselves, created using AI.

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

Concerning Data

A prominent internet monitoring organization reported that cases of AI-generated exploitation material – such as online pages that may contain numerous images – had significantly increased so far this year.

Cases of the most severe content – the most serious form of abuse – rose from 2,621 visual files to 3,086.

• Girls were predominantly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025
• Portrayals of infants to two-year-olds rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The legislative amendment could "represent a vital step to ensure AI tools are secure before they are released," stated the chief executive of the internet monitoring foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have made it so victims can be victimised all over again with just a few clicks, giving offenders the ability to make potentially endless quantities of sophisticated, photorealistic child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Material which further commodifies victims' suffering, and makes young people, especially girls, less safe on and off line."

Counseling Session Information

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

• Employing AI to rate weight, physique and looks
• Chatbots dissuading children from talking to trusted adults about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Digital blackmail using AI-faked images

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

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were connected with psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including utilizing AI assistants for support and AI therapy apps.