🔗 Share this article UK Tech Firms and Child Safety Officials to Test AI's Capability to Generate Abuse Images Tech firms and child protection organizations will be granted authority to evaluate whether artificial intelligence systems can produce child abuse material under recently introduced British laws. Significant Increase in AI-Generated Illegal Content The announcement coincided with revelations from a safety monitoring body showing that reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have more than doubled in the last twelve months, growing from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025. New Regulatory Framework Under the changes, the authorities will permit approved AI developers and child protection organizations to examine AI systems – the foundational systems for chatbots and image generators – and verify they have adequate protective measures to prevent them from producing depictions of child sexual abuse. "Ultimately about stopping exploitation before it happens," stated the minister for AI and online safety, noting: "Specialists, under strict protocols, can now detect the danger in AI systems promptly." Addressing Legal Challenges The amendments have been introduced because it is against the law to produce and own CSAM, meaning that AI creators and others cannot generate such content as part of a evaluation process. Previously, authorities had to wait until AI-generated CSAM was uploaded online before dealing with it. This legislation is aimed at preventing that problem by helping to stop the creation of those materials at source. Legislative Framework The changes are being introduced by the government as revisions to the crime and policing bill, which is also implementing a ban on possessing, producing or sharing AI models developed to generate child sexual abuse material. Real-World Impact This recently, the official visited the London headquarters of a children's helpline and heard a mock-up call to counsellors involving a report of AI-based exploitation. The interaction depicted a teenager requesting help after facing extortion using a explicit AI-generated image of themselves, created using AI. "When I hear about children facing blackmail online, it is a source of intense anger in me and rightful concern amongst families," he said. Alarming Data A leading internet monitoring foundation stated that instances of AI-generated abuse content – such as webpages that may contain numerous files – had more than doubled so far this year. Cases of category A material – the most serious form of abuse – increased from 2,621 visual files to 3,086. Girls were predominantly targeted, making up 94% of illegal AI depictions in 2025 Portrayals of infants to toddlers increased from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025 Industry Reaction The law change could "constitute a crucial step to ensure AI products are safe before they are launched," stated the head of the online safety organization. "AI tools have made it so survivors can be targeted all over again with just a few clicks, providing criminals the capability to create potentially endless quantities of sophisticated, photorealistic child sexual abuse material," she added. "Material which further exploits victims' suffering, and renders children, especially girls, less safe both online and offline." Counseling Interaction Data The children's helpline also published details of counselling sessions where AI has been mentioned. AI-related harms mentioned in the sessions comprise: Using AI to rate body size, physique and looks AI assistants dissuading young people from consulting trusted guardians about abuse Being bullied online with AI-generated content Digital extortion using AI-manipulated images During April and September this year, the helpline delivered 367 support sessions where AI, chatbots and related terms were discussed, significantly more as many as in the same period last year. Half of the references of AI in the 2025 interactions were connected with psychological wellbeing and wellbeing, including using AI assistants for support and AI therapeutic apps.