🔗 Share this article UK Tech Companies and Child Safety Officials to Examine AI's Ability to Create Exploitation Content Technology companies and child protection organizations will receive authority to assess whether artificial intelligence tools can generate child exploitation images under new UK legislation. Significant Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Content The declaration came as revelations from a safety 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. New Legal Framework Under the changes, the government will allow designated AI developers and child protection organizations to inspect AI systems – the underlying systems for conversational AI and image generators – and verify they have adequate protective measures to prevent them from creating depictions of child exploitation. "Fundamentally about preventing exploitation before it occurs," stated the minister for AI and online safety, adding: "Experts, under rigorous protocols, can now detect the danger in AI models early." Addressing Legal Challenges The amendments have been implemented because it is illegal to create and own CSAM, meaning that AI developers and other parties cannot generate such content as part of a evaluation regime. Until now, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before addressing it. This law is aimed at preventing that problem by enabling to stop the creation of those materials at source. Legal Framework The amendments are being added by the authorities as revisions to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a prohibition on possessing, producing or distributing AI models developed to generate exploitative content. Practical Impact This recently, the official visited the London headquarters of Childline and listened to a simulated conversation to advisors involving a account of AI-based exploitation. The call depicted a teenager seeking help after being blackmailed using a explicit AI-generated image of himself, created using AI. "When I learn about young people facing blackmail online, it is a source of extreme anger in me and rightful anger amongst families," he said. Concerning Data A leading online safety organization reported 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 content – the gravest form of abuse – rose from 2,621 images or videos to 3,086. Girls were overwhelmingly victimized, accounting for 94% of prohibited AI images in 2025 Depictions of newborns to toddlers rose from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025 Industry Reaction The law change could "constitute a crucial step to ensure AI products are secure before they are released," stated the head of the internet monitoring organization. "Artificial intelligence systems have made it so victims can be victimised repeatedly with just a few clicks, giving offenders the capability to create possibly limitless quantities of advanced, photorealistic child sexual abuse material," she added. "Material which additionally commodifies victims' suffering, and renders young people, particularly girls, less safe both online and offline." Support Session Data Childline also published information of counselling sessions where AI has been referenced. AI-related risks mentioned in the sessions comprise: Using AI to evaluate weight, body and appearance Chatbots dissuading young people from consulting safe adults about harm Facing harassment online with AI-generated material Digital extortion using AI-manipulated pictures During April and September this year, the helpline conducted 367 support sessions where AI, chatbots and associated topics were discussed, four times as many as in the equivalent timeframe last year. Fifty percent of the mentions of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with mental health and wellbeing, including utilizing chatbots for support and AI therapeutic apps.