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Technology companies and child safety organizations will be granted authority to evaluate whether AI systems can produce child exploitation images under new UK legislation.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Content

The declaration came as revelations from a safety watchdog showing that cases of AI-generated CSAM have more than doubled in the past year, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Regulatory Framework

Under the changes, the authorities will allow approved AI developers and child safety organizations to inspect AI models – the underlying systems for chatbots and image generators – and ensure they have sufficient safeguards to stop them from creating images of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about preventing abuse before it occurs," declared Kanishka Narayan, noting: "Specialists, under rigorous protocols, can now identify the risk in AI systems early."

Tackling Regulatory Obstacles

The changes have been implemented because it is against the law to create and possess CSAM, meaning that AI creators and other parties cannot generate such content as part of a testing process. Until now, officials 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 stop the creation of those images at source.

Legal Framework

The amendments are being added by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also establishing a ban on owning, creating or distributing AI systems designed to create exploitative content.

Real-World Consequences

This week, the official visited the London base of Childline and listened to a simulated conversation to counsellors featuring a report of AI-based abuse. The interaction portrayed a teenager seeking help after facing extortion using a explicit deepfake of himself, created using AI.

"When I learn about children facing extortion online, it is a cause of intense frustration in me and rightful concern amongst parents," he stated.

Alarming Statistics

A leading internet monitoring foundation reported that cases of AI-generated abuse content – such as webpages that may contain multiple files – had more than doubled so far this year.

Cases of category A content – the gravest form of exploitation – increased from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

• Girls were overwhelmingly targeted, accounting for 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of infants 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 tools 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, giving criminals the ability to create potentially limitless quantities of sophisticated, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she added. "Material which additionally commodifies victims' suffering, and makes children, especially female children, more vulnerable both online and offline."

Support Session Data

The children's helpline also released details of counselling sessions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related harms mentioned in the conversations include:

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

Between April and September this year, Childline delivered 367 support sessions where AI, chatbots and associated topics were discussed, significantly more as many as in the same period last year.

Half of the mentions of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to mental health and wellbeing, including utilizing AI assistants for support and AI therapy apps.