U.K.The government is working on four new laws aimed at cracking down on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) Tool Generationviolencecommandersmaterial (CSAM). According to a statement from the UK Home Office, these laws will make it clear that it is an offense to create, possess, or distribute AI tools used to generate CSAM.The move will make the UK the first country in the world to legislate against such behavior.
Under the new law.Offenders face up to five years in prisonIn addition, possession of "AI pedophile manuals" that incite others to use AI to sexually abuse children will be criminalized. In addition, possession of an "AI paedophile manual" that incites others to use AI to sexually abuse children will also be criminalized, with a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment. It will be illegal to operate a website that hosts CSAM or offers advice on child grooming, with offenders facing up to 10 years in prison.
At the same time, the UK Border Force will be given new enforcement powers to check suspected child sex abusers for potential CSAM on their electronic devices when they enter the country, with offenders receiving up to three years' imprisonment, depending on the severity of the content.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, "We know that the online activities of these sick predators often lead to them committing the most horrific abuses in reality. This Government will not hesitate to take action to ensure that children are safe online and that our laws are up to date with the latest threats."
AI-generated CSAM includes content that is wholly or partially computer-generated, such as real images edited to look like someone else by replacing faces, or content that includes the real voices of children.
1AI notes that data from the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) shows thatApproximately 800 people are arrested each month for offenses related to online child abuse threats. According to the BBC, the NCA estimates that around 840,000 adults in the UK (1.6% of the total population) pose a threat to children (both online and offline).
Anti-child abuse organizations called on the Government to take further action. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) called for a ban on "strip" applications, which can be used to generate nude images of adults and children.
IWF Interim CEO Derek Ray Hill said, "The alarming rate at which AI images become indistinguishable from real photos of abuse demonstrates the need for legislation to keep pace with new technology. The existence of this AI content further contributes to sexualized violence against children, which not only encourages abusers but also puts the safety of real children at greater risk."
While the creation or possession of AI-generated CSAM is already considered illegal, the IWF notes that the new law will explicitly prohibit the optimization of AI models to "generate the most serious child sexual abuse material."
The IWF was one of the first charities to issue a warning about AI and synthetic CSAM. The organization found an increase in the amount of AI-generated CSAM online, noting that many of the 245 such images reported in 2024 were "so lifelike that they must be treated on a par with 'real' content."
These new laws, which will be included in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill, are part of the UK government's overall efforts around child safety online. Ofcom, the UK's digital regulator, recently announced that adult websites will be required to age-verify before providing access to users. The agency also required tech companies to complete an assessment of the risk posed to children and adults by illegal content on their platforms by March 16th.
