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Tech firms and child protection organizations will receive permission to evaluate whether artificial intelligence tools can produce child abuse material under recently introduced UK legislation.

Substantial Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Material

The announcement coincided with findings from a safety monitoring body showing that reports 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 safety organizations to examine AI systems – the underlying technology for chatbots and image generators – and ensure they have sufficient safeguards to prevent them from creating depictions of child exploitation.

"Ultimately about stopping exploitation before it occurs," stated the minister for AI and online safety, adding: "Experts, under strict protocols, can now detect the danger in AI systems promptly."

Tackling Regulatory Obstacles

The changes have been introduced because it is against the law to produce and possess CSAM, meaning that AI creators and others cannot create such content as part of a testing process. Previously, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before addressing it.

This legislation is designed to averting that problem by enabling to halt the production of those materials at source.

Legislative Structure

The amendments are being introduced by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a ban on owning, producing or sharing AI models designed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Consequences

This week, the official visited the London headquarters of a children's helpline and heard a mock-up call to advisors involving a report of AI-based exploitation. The interaction depicted a adolescent seeking help after being blackmailed using a sexualised AI-generated image of himself, created using AI.

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

Concerning Statistics

A prominent online safety organization stated that instances of AI-generated exploitation content – such as webpages that may contain multiple files – 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 victimized, accounting for 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of newborns to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Reaction

The law change could "represent a vital step to guarantee AI products are secure before they are released," commented the chief executive of the internet monitoring foundation.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so survivors can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving offenders the capability to make potentially endless quantities of sophisticated, lifelike exploitative content," she added. "Content which additionally commodifies survivors' suffering, and renders young people, particularly girls, less safe both online and offline."

Counseling Interaction Information

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

• Using AI to evaluate weight, body and looks
• AI assistants dissuading young people from talking to safe guardians about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Digital extortion using AI-faked pictures

During April and September this year, the helpline delivered 367 support interactions where AI, chatbots and associated topics were discussed, four times as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Fifty percent of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, encompassing utilizing chatbots for support and AI therapy apps.