The United Kingdom (UK) has become the first country in the world to introduce new laws targeting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
In a landmark announcement on February 2, 2025, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed bold measures as part of the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, aiming to combat the growing threat posed by AI-generated child exploitation imagery.
The legislation will introduce several offences aimed at protecting children from AI-driven abuse.
It will be illegal to possess, create, or distribute AI tools designed to generate CSAM, with offenders facing up to five years in prison.
Possession of AI “paedophile manuals” that provide instructions on how to exploit AI to sexually abuse children will carry a penalty of up to three years in prison.
Additionally, predators who run or moderate websites promoting CSAM or offering advice on grooming will face up to 10 years in prison.
Border Force officers will also be given new powers to compel suspected offenders to unlock their digital devices for inspection, with refusal punishable by up to three years in prison.
According to the government blog post, these AI tools are increasingly being misused to create lifelike child abuse content, including by “nudeifying” real-life images of children and generating fake images using real children’s faces and voices.
These images are often used to blackmail victims into further exploitation, while predators use AI’s anonymity to groom children more effectively.
Recent data from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) highlights the scale of the problem, with reports of AI-generated CSAM rising by 380% in 2024 compared to 2023.
Over a 30-day period, IWF analysts found 3,512 AI-generated images on a single dark web site. Many of these images are so realistic that they are indistinguishable from real-life abuse.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of swift action, explaining that online predators often escalate to committing real-world abuse.
She stated, “We know that sick predators’ activities online often lead to the most horrific abuse in person. This government will not hesitate to act to ensure the safety of children online by ensuring our laws keep pace with the latest threats.”
Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle echoed these sentiments, asserting that the new laws will close loopholes and ensure that abusers can no longer hide behind technology.
“Our message is clear – nothing will get in the way of keeping children safe, and to abusers, the time for cowering behind a keyboard is over,” he added.
The measures have been widely welcomed by child protection organizations.
Interim Chief Executive of the IWF, Derek Ray-Hill, called the announcement a vital step in combating the exploitation of AI technology, stating that children who have suffered sexual abuse in the past are now being made victims all over again.
He warned that with life-like images of children being created with only a few clicks, any child could become a victim.
The NSPCC’s Policy Manager for Child Safety Online, Rani Govender, highlighted the devastating impact on young people and stressed the importance of regulating AI to ensure it does not race ahead of child protection efforts.
The UK’s new laws set a global benchmark in online child protection.
“The Crime and Policing Bill will also support the government’s broader Safer Streets mission, which aims to reduce knife crime and violence against women and girls while increasing public confidence in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.”
As technology continues to evolve, the government has pledged to adapt its approach and hold tech companies accountable for ensuring their platforms do not facilitate harm, reinforcing the UK’s position as a world leader in child protection.
