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Technology companies and child protection organizations will receive authority to evaluate whether artificial intelligence systems can produce child abuse images under new British legislation.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The declaration came as revelations from a safety watchdog showing that reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have increased dramatically in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Regulatory Structure

Under the amendments, the government will allow approved AI developers and child safety organizations to inspect AI systems – the underlying technology for conversational AI and visual AI tools – and verify they have sufficient protective measures to stop them from producing depictions of child sexual abuse.

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

Tackling Legal Obstacles

The changes have been introduced because it is illegal to create and possess CSAM, meaning that AI creators and other parties cannot create such images as part of a testing process. Previously, officials had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before addressing it.

This legislation is designed to preventing that problem by enabling to halt the creation of those images at source.

Legislative Framework

The changes are being added by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a ban on owning, creating or sharing AI systems designed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Impact

This week, the minister visited the London headquarters of a children's helpline and listened to a mock-up call to advisors featuring a account of AI-based exploitation. The interaction depicted a teenager seeking help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of themselves, created using AI.

"When I hear about young people facing extortion online, it is a source of extreme anger in me and justified anger amongst parents," he said.

Alarming Data

A leading online safety foundation reported that cases of AI-generated abuse content – such as online pages that may include numerous files – had more than doubled so far this year.

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

• Female children were predominantly victimized, making up 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Portrayals of newborns to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Response

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

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so survivors can be victimised repeatedly with just a simple actions, giving criminals the capability to create possibly limitless amounts of advanced, photorealistic exploitative content," she added. "Content which additionally commodifies survivors' suffering, and makes young people, especially female children, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Support Session Information

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

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

During April and September this year, Childline conducted 367 counselling sessions where AI, chatbots and related terms were discussed, four times as many as in the same period last year.

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 interactions were related to psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including utilizing chatbots for assistance and AI therapeutic applications.