The crackdown will also make it illegal to possess AI-generated “pedophile manuals”, which provide instructions on using AI to sexually abuse children.
The move follows warnings that AI-generated child abuse imagery is being produced at a “chilling rate” and is “disturbingly realistic.” While possessing AI-generated CSAM is already illegal, the new laws will target the technology used to create it.
Under the proposed legislation, creating, possessing, or distributing AI tools designed to generate CSAM will be punishable by up to five years in prison. Additionally, anyone found in possession of AI-generated “paedophile manuals” could face up to three years in prison.
Jess Phillips, the UK’s safeguarding minister, said Britain is the first country to legislate specifically against AI-generated child abuse material.
“This is a global problem, and it’s going to need global solutions,” she told Sky News.
“This government is leading the way in trying to clamp down on this horrendous crime.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper echoed the urgency, warning that AI has put online child abuse “on steroids.” She described it as an “escalating and accelerating” threat that is making abuse “more extreme and sadistic.”
The Home Office said AI tools are being used in multiple ways to create abusive material, including “nudifying” real-life images of children and stitching children’s faces onto existing CSAM.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) reported cases of children finding AI-generated explicit images of themselves online. In one case, a 15-year-old girl called the charity’s Childline service in distress after discovering fake nude images of herself circulating online.
Perpetrators are also using AI-generated images for blackmail and coercion, forcing victims into further abuse, including live-streamed exploitation. In addition to targeting AI-generated CSAM, the government will introduce a new offense for predators who run websites that facilitate child abuse, providing longer sentences and preventing site moderators from claiming ignorance about the content with a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
The UK Border Force will also receive new powers to force suspected offenders to unlock their digital devices for inspection. All four measures will be included in the Crime and Policing Bill when it is introduced in Parliament.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has reported a sharp increase in AI-generated child abuse material. Over a 30-day period in 2024, analysts identified 3,512 AI-generated CSAM images on a single dark web site. Compared to 2023, the prevalence of the most severe category (Category A) increased by 10%.
Derek Ray-Hill, interim CEO of the IWF, welcomed the new laws. “We have long been calling for the law to be tightened, and are pleased the government has adopted our recommendations. These steps will have a real impact on online safety.” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reinforced the government’s commitment to tackling the issue. “Sick predators operating online often escalate to committing horrific abuse in person. We will not hesitate to act to ensure children’s safety by keeping our laws in step with the latest threats.”