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Technology companies and child protection organizations will be granted permission to evaluate whether artificial intelligence systems can generate child exploitation material under new UK laws.

Substantial Rise in AI-Generated Harmful Material

The declaration coincided with revelations from a protection watchdog showing that cases of AI-generated CSAM have increased dramatically in the past year, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025.

Updated Regulatory Framework

Under the changes, the authorities will permit approved AI developers and child safety organizations to examine AI models – the foundational technology for chatbots and image generators – and verify they have sufficient protective measures to prevent them from producing depictions of child sexual abuse.

"Fundamentally about stopping abuse before it happens," stated Kanishka Narayan, noting: "Specialists, under strict conditions, can now identify the risk in AI systems early."

Addressing Legal Obstacles

The amendments have been introduced because it is against the law to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and others cannot create such images as part of a testing process. Previously, officials had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was published online before dealing with it.

This law is designed to averting that problem by helping to stop the creation of those images at source.

Legislative Framework

The changes are being introduced by the authorities as modifications to the criminal justice legislation, which is also implementing a prohibition on possessing, creating or sharing AI systems developed to create exploitative content.

Practical Impact

This week, the official toured the London headquarters of Childline and listened to a mock-up call to advisors involving a report of AI-based exploitation. The interaction portrayed a teenager requesting help after being blackmailed using a sexualised AI-generated image of themselves, created using AI.

"When I hear about young people experiencing extortion online, it is a cause of intense frustration in me and justified concern amongst parents," he stated.

Alarming Statistics

A prominent internet monitoring organization reported that cases of AI-generated exploitation material – such as online pages that may contain numerous images – had significantly increased so far this year.

Instances of category A content – the gravest form of abuse – rose from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086.

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

Industry Response

The legislative amendment could "constitute a vital step to guarantee AI products are safe before they are released," stated the chief executive of the online safety organization.

"Artificial intelligence systems have enabled so victims can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, providing offenders the ability to make potentially limitless quantities of advanced, lifelike exploitative content," she added. "Content which further commodifies survivors' trauma, and makes young people, especially girls, less safe on and off line."

Counseling Interaction Data

The children's helpline also released details of support interactions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related risks mentioned in the sessions include:

• Employing AI to rate weight, physique and appearance
• Chatbots discouraging children from consulting safe adults about harm
• Facing harassment online with AI-generated content
• Digital blackmail using AI-faked images

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

Fifty percent of the references of AI in the 2025 sessions were connected with mental health and wellness, including using chatbots for support and AI therapy applications.