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Technology companies and child protection organizations will be granted permission to evaluate whether AI tools can generate child exploitation material under recently introduced UK laws.

Significant Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The declaration came as revelations from a protection monitoring body showing that reports of AI-generated CSAM have more than doubled in the past year, rising from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Regulatory Structure

Under the changes, the government will permit approved AI developers and child safety groups to examine AI systems – the underlying systems for conversational AI and image generators – and ensure they have adequate safeguards to prevent them from creating depictions of child sexual abuse.

"Ultimately about preventing abuse before it occurs," declared the minister for AI and online safety, adding: "Experts, under strict protocols, can now detect the risk in AI systems promptly."

Addressing Legal Obstacles

The changes have been introduced because it is illegal to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and others cannot generate such content as part of a evaluation regime. Previously, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before addressing it.

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

Legislative Framework

The amendments are being added by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a prohibition on possessing, producing or distributing AI systems developed to generate child sexual abuse material.

Practical Impact

This week, the official toured the London headquarters of Childline and heard a simulated call to advisors involving a account of AI-based exploitation. The interaction portrayed a adolescent requesting help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of himself, constructed using AI.

"When I hear about children experiencing extortion online, it is a cause of intense frustration in me and rightful anger amongst parents," he said.

Alarming Statistics

A prominent online safety organization stated that cases of AI-generated abuse content – such as webpages that may contain numerous files – had more than doubled so far this year.

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

• Girls were overwhelmingly victimized, making up 94% of prohibited AI depictions in 2025
• Depictions of newborns to two-year-olds increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025

Industry Response

The law change could "represent a vital step to ensure AI products are safe before they are released," stated the head of the internet monitoring organization.

"Artificial intelligence systems have made it so victims can be targeted repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving offenders the ability to create potentially limitless amounts of sophisticated, lifelike child sexual abuse material," she added. "Content which additionally commodifies victims' suffering, and makes young people, particularly girls, less safe on and off line."

Support Interaction Data

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

• 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
• Digital blackmail using AI-faked 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 same period last year.

Half of the references of AI in the 2025 sessions were related to mental health and wellness, including utilizing chatbots for support and AI therapeutic applications.