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Tech firms and child safety agencies will be granted permission to evaluate whether artificial intelligence tools can produce child abuse images under recently introduced British legislation.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Illegal Material

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

Updated Legal Structure

Under the changes, the government will permit designated AI developers and child safety groups to inspect AI models – the foundational technology for chatbots and image generators – and ensure they have adequate protective measures to stop them from creating images of child sexual abuse.

"Fundamentally about stopping abuse before it happens," declared Kanishka Narayan, noting: "Specialists, under rigorous protocols, can now detect the risk in AI models promptly."

Addressing Legal Obstacles

The changes have been introduced because it is illegal to produce and possess CSAM, meaning that AI developers and others cannot generate such images as part of a evaluation regime. Previously, officials had to delay action until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before dealing with it.

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

Legal Framework

The changes are being introduced by the authorities as revisions to the criminal justice legislation, which is also establishing a ban on possessing, producing or sharing AI systems developed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Impact

This week, the minister visited the London base of a children's helpline and heard a mock-up call to counsellors involving a report of AI-based abuse. The call portrayed a adolescent requesting help after being blackmailed using a sexualised AI-generated image of himself, constructed using AI.

"When I learn about children experiencing blackmail online, it is a cause of extreme anger in me and justified concern amongst parents," he said.

Alarming Statistics

A prominent online safety organization reported that instances of AI-generated exploitation material – such as online pages that may contain numerous files – had significantly increased so far this year.

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

• Female children were predominantly targeted, accounting for 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of infants to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Response

The law change could "constitute a crucial step to ensure AI products are secure before they are launched," commented the chief executive of the online safety organization.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so survivors can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, providing offenders the capability to create potentially endless quantities of sophisticated, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she continued. "Content which further exploits victims' trauma, and makes young people, particularly female children, less safe on and off line."

Counseling Interaction Data

Childline also released information of counselling sessions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks discussed in the conversations include:

• Employing AI to rate weight, body and looks
• AI assistants discouraging young people from talking to trusted guardians about abuse
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated material
• Online blackmail using AI-manipulated pictures

During April and September this year, Childline delivered 367 support interactions where AI, conversational AI and related topics were mentioned, significantly more as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were related to mental health and wellness, including utilizing AI assistants for assistance and AI therapy apps.