The UK government has taken decisive action against the misuse of artificial intelligence in creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through comprehensive legislation that addresses critical gaps in existing laws.
The Crime and Policing Bill, introduced to Parliament on February 25, 2025, creates several new offenses specifically targeting AI-generated child abuse content. While creating or possessing child sexual abuse imagery was already illegal in the UK, the new legislation extends protection by criminalizing the possession and distribution of AI models optimized to create such material, as well as manuals that provide instructions on using AI for this purpose.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who introduced the bill, emphasized the urgency of the legislation, stating that "AI is putting child abuse on steroids" and that predators' online activities often lead to physical abuse. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported that AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery increased nearly five-fold in 2024, with over 3,000 criminal images identified on a single dark web forum during a one-month monitoring period.
The legislation introduces several key provisions: criminalizing the possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools designed to generate CSAM (punishable by up to five years in prison); banning the possession of AI 'pedophile manuals' that teach people how to use AI to create abuse material; creating a specific offense for those who run websites designed for sharing child sexual abuse content (punishable by up to 10 years in prison); and granting Border Force officers new powers to compel individuals to unlock digital devices for inspection when entering or leaving the UK.
Child protection experts have welcomed the legislation. The NSPCC's Policy Manager for Child Safety Online, Rani Govender, called it "encouraging to see the government take action" while noting that their Childline service regularly hears from young people devastated by AI-generated images created of them. The IWF has urged other governments worldwide to introduce similar measures to ensure international alignment in countering the spread of AI-generated child sexual abuse.
The Crime and Policing Bill is currently progressing through Parliament, with the Public Bill Committee scrutinizing it line by line before reporting back to the House by mid-May 2025. The legislation represents a significant step in adapting legal frameworks to address the evolving threats posed by artificial intelligence technologies when used for criminal purposes.