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Tech firms and child protection agencies will be granted permission to assess whether AI systems can generate child exploitation material under new British legislation.

Significant Rise in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The announcement came as revelations from a protection monitoring body showing that cases of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Legal Structure

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

"Ultimately about preventing exploitation before it occurs," declared the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Experts, under strict conditions, can now identify the risk in AI models promptly."

Addressing Regulatory Challenges

The changes have been implemented because it is against the law to produce and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and other parties cannot generate such images as part of a testing regime. Until now, authorities had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before addressing it.

This law is designed to preventing that problem by enabling to halt the production of those images at their origin.

Legislative Framework

The changes are being introduced by the government as modifications to the crime and policing bill, which is also establishing a prohibition on owning, producing or sharing AI models designed to create exploitative content.

Real-World Impact

This week, the official toured the London headquarters of Childline and heard a simulated conversation to counsellors involving a account of AI-based abuse. The interaction depicted a adolescent seeking help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of themselves, constructed using AI.

"When I learn about children experiencing blackmail online, it is a source of intense anger in me and rightful concern amongst families," he stated.

Alarming Statistics

A prominent online safety foundation stated that cases of AI-generated abuse material – such as webpages that may include multiple files – had significantly increased so far this year.

Cases of the most severe material – the most serious form of abuse – increased from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

• Female children were predominantly targeted, accounting for 94% of illegal AI images in 2025
• Portrayals of newborns to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The legislative amendment could "constitute a crucial step to guarantee AI products are secure before they are released," stated the chief executive of the internet monitoring foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so survivors can be targeted all over again with just a few clicks, providing criminals the capability to create possibly endless quantities of sophisticated, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she added. "Material which further exploits victims' suffering, and makes children, especially girls, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Counseling Session Information

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

• Employing AI to evaluate body size, body and appearance
• AI assistants dissuading children from consulting trusted guardians about harm
• Being bullied online with AI-generated content
• Online extortion using AI-faked pictures

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

Fifty percent of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were related to psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including using chatbots for assistance and AI therapeutic apps.