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Technology companies and child safety agencies will receive authority to assess whether AI systems can generate child exploitation images under recently introduced UK legislation.

Significant Increase in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The declaration came as revelations from a safety watchdog showing that cases of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the last twelve months, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

New Legal Structure

Under the changes, the authorities will allow designated AI companies and child safety groups to examine AI models – the foundational technology for conversational AI and image generators – and ensure they have sufficient protective measures to prevent them from creating images of child exploitation.

"Ultimately about preventing exploitation before it happens," stated Kanishka Narayan, noting: "Experts, under strict protocols, can now identify the danger in AI systems promptly."

Addressing Regulatory Challenges

The changes have been implemented because it is against the law to create and possess CSAM, meaning that AI creators and others cannot generate such content as part of a evaluation regime. Until now, officials had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before dealing with it.

This law is aimed at preventing that issue by enabling to stop the production of those images at source.

Legal Structure

The amendments are being added by the authorities as revisions to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a ban on owning, producing or distributing AI systems designed to create child sexual abuse material.

Real-World Impact

This week, the official visited the London headquarters of Childline and heard a simulated call to advisors featuring a report of AI-based exploitation. The interaction depicted a teenager seeking help after facing extortion using a sexualised AI-generated image of themselves, created using AI.

"When I hear about young people experiencing blackmail online, it is a cause of extreme anger in me and justified concern amongst families," he said.

Concerning Statistics

A leading internet monitoring foundation stated that cases of AI-generated abuse content – such as webpages that may contain numerous images – had significantly increased so far this year.

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

• Girls were predominantly targeted, accounting for 94% of prohibited AI images in 2025
• Portrayals of infants to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Sector Response

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

"AI tools have enabled so victims can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving offenders the capability to create possibly limitless amounts of sophisticated, photorealistic exploitative content," she added. "Material which further commodifies victims' suffering, and renders children, particularly female children, less safe both online and offline."

Counseling Session Information

The children's helpline also released information of support sessions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related risks mentioned in the conversations comprise:

• Employing AI to evaluate weight, body and appearance
• AI assistants discouraging children from talking to trusted adults about harm
• Being bullied online with AI-generated material
• Digital extortion using AI-faked pictures

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

Fifty percent of the references of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to mental health and wellness, including utilizing AI assistants for assistance and AI therapy applications.