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Technology companies and child safety agencies will be granted authority to evaluate whether artificial intelligence tools can generate child abuse material under recently introduced British legislation.

Significant Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Content

The announcement came as findings from a protection watchdog showing that cases of AI-generated CSAM have increased dramatically in the last twelve months, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Regulatory Framework

Under the changes, the government will allow designated AI companies and child safety groups to examine AI models – the foundational systems for conversational AI and image generators – and ensure they have adequate safeguards to prevent them from creating images of child sexual abuse.

"Fundamentally about stopping exploitation before it happens," declared the minister for AI and online safety, adding: "Experts, under rigorous conditions, can now detect the risk in AI systems early."

Tackling Legal Challenges

The amendments have been implemented because it is against the law to create and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and others cannot create such images as part of a evaluation process. Previously, authorities had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

This law is aimed at averting that issue by helping to halt the creation of those materials at source.

Legal Framework

The changes are being added by the government as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on possessing, producing or sharing AI models developed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Impact

This recently, the official toured the London headquarters of Childline and heard a mock-up call to advisors 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 source of extreme frustration in me and justified concern amongst families," he said.

Alarming Statistics

A prominent online safety foundation reported that instances of AI-generated exploitation material – such as webpages that may include numerous images – had more than doubled so far this year.

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

• Female children were predominantly victimized, making up 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025
• Portrayals of newborns to two-year-olds rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The legislative amendment could "represent a crucial step to ensure AI tools are secure before they are released," stated the head of the online safety organization.

"AI tools have made it so survivors can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, providing criminals the ability to create potentially endless amounts of advanced, lifelike exploitative content," she continued. "Material which additionally exploits survivors' trauma, and renders children, especially girls, less safe both online and offline."

Counseling Interaction Data

Childline also released information of counselling interactions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the conversations comprise:

• Employing AI to evaluate weight, physique and looks
• Chatbots discouraging young people from consulting safe adults about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Online blackmail using AI-manipulated images

Between April and September this year, the helpline conducted 367 support interactions where AI, conversational AI and related terms were mentioned, four times as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including using chatbots for assistance and AI therapy applications.