Britain is set to become the first country in the world to make it illegal to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create child sexual abuse material. The move, announced by the government on Saturday, is part of a wider crackdown on online child exploitation and will be included in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill.
Read More: Britain to make sexually explicit ‘deepfakes’ a crime
The legislation will make it a criminal offence to possess, create, or distribute AI tools designed to generate child sexual abuse images. It will also target offenders who run websites that facilitate the sharing of such material and those who possess AI-generated “paedophile manuals” that provide instructions on how to exploit AI for child abuse.
Addressing the Rise of AI-Generated Abuse
The rise in AI-generated child abuse content has alarmed law enforcement agencies and child protection organisations. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported a nearly five-fold increase in AI-created child abuse images in 2024. Analysts found 3,512 AI-generated child abuse images on a single dark web site over just 30 days. The most serious category of abuse material also rose by 10% in a year.
AI is being used to manipulate real-life images of children by “nudifying” them or superimposing their faces onto existing explicit material. Offenders also use AI to create realistic fake images and voices to blackmail victims into further exploitation.
“We know that sick predators’ activities online often lead to them carrying out the most horrific abuse in person,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. “It is vital that we tackle child sexual abuse online as well as offline so we can better protect the public from new and emerging crimes.”
Tougher Penalties for Offenders
Under the new law, those found guilty of creating or distributing AI-generated child abuse material will face up to five years in prison. Possessing AI-generated paedophile manuals will carry a three-year prison sentence.
Additionally, individuals who operate websites that host or facilitate the distribution of AI-generated child abuse content will face up to 10 years in prison. The government is also granting Border Force new powers to compel suspected offenders to unlock their digital devices for inspection.
Crackdown on AI-Generated Deepfakes
The UK government is also taking action against deepfake pornography. Earlier this month, it announced that creating and sharing AI-generated sexually explicit deepfake images, videos, or audio clips would be criminalised. This move aims to prevent individuals from misusing AI to fabricate and spread explicit material without consent.
Calls for Stronger Oversight
While child protection groups have welcomed the legislation, they stress the importance of enforcement and oversight of AI companies. Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the NSPCC, urged tech firms to take more responsibility: “Wherever possible, these abhorrent harms must be prevented from happening in the first place.”
Read More: Labour MPs call for Britain-wide probe into rape gangs
Derek Ray-Hill, interim CEO of the Internet Watch Foundation, called the government’s move a “vital starting point” but warned that continuous vigilance was necessary to prevent AI tools from being exploited by offenders.