The UK government has announced a series of new laws aimed at tackling child sexual abuse material (CSAM) generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The Home Office stated that the UK would be the first country to criminalise the possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools used to produce CSAM, with offenders facing up to five years in prison.
Additionally, possessing AI-generated paedophile manuals—guides on using AI for sexual abuse—will become illegal, carrying a maximum sentence of three years. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that AI is “industrialising” the scale of online child abuse, making it more difficult to detect and prevent.
Further laws will target individuals running websites that enable paedophiles to share CSAM or exchange advice on grooming children. Those found guilty could receive up to 10 years in prison. Border Force officers will also gain new powers to demand access to digital devices from individuals suspected of posing a risk to children when entering the UK. Depending on the severity of the content found, offenders could be jailed for up to three years.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) reports 800 monthly arrests related to online child abuse, estimating that 1.6% of UK adults pose a risk to children.
Experts have welcomed the government’s action but argue that more needs to be done, including banning “nudify” apps and tackling the portrayal of young-looking actors in explicit material. The measures will be included in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill.
