This Government is taking robust action to tackle the growing threat of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including where offenders use innocent images of children to create sexualised or abusive content.

The law is crystal clear: child sexual abuse material is illegal regardless of whether it is produced using artificial intelligence or any other means. Law enforcement agencies will pursue those who create, possess, distribute or use such material to facilitate further offending, including blackmail and coercion.

Through the Crime and Policing Act, we have introduced a new offence targeting AI models designed or adapted to generate child sexual abuse material, helping to prevent this abuse at its source. We have also taken action to ban so-called "nudify" tools, which can be used to create sexually explicit images from posted images, including images of children.

In addition, we have introduced a technology testing defence to enable authorised organisations, child protection charities and other AI safety companies to safely test AI systems and identify vulnerabilities within AI models. This supports the development of stronger safeguards to prevent AI systems from being able to generate child sexual abuse material in the first place.

Online services also have duties under the Online Safety Act to assess risks and implement proportionate measures to protect users, particularly children. They are also required to tackle illegal content on their platforms, including by implementing effective systems and processes to reduce the risk of illegal content being shared across public and private spaces, and by providing users with clear and accessible reporting mechanisms.

The Government is also working closely with industry, law enforcement, child protection organisations and the AI Security Institute to understand AI risks and improve safeguards across the AI ecosystem, to reduce opportunities for offenders to create, distribute and profit from AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

This Government is taking robust action to tackle the growing threat of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including where offenders use innocent images of children to create sexualised or abusive content.

The law is crystal clear: child sexual abuse material is illegal regardless of whether it is produced using artificial intelligence or any other means. Law enforcement agencies will pursue those who create, possess, distribute or use such material to facilitate further offending, including blackmail and coercion.

Through the Crime and Policing Act, we have introduced a new offence targeting AI models designed or adapted to generate child sexual abuse material, helping to prevent this abuse at its source. We have also taken action to ban so-called "nudify" tools, which can be used to create sexually explicit images from posted images, including images of children.

In addition, we have introduced a technology testing defence to enable authorised organisations, child protection charities and other AI safety companies to safely test AI systems and identify vulnerabilities within AI models. This supports the development of stronger safeguards to prevent AI systems from being able to generate child sexual abuse material in the first place.

Online services also have duties under the Online Safety Act to assess risks and implement proportionate measures to protect users, particularly children. They are also required to tackle illegal content on their platforms, including by implementing effective systems and processes to reduce the risk of illegal content being shared across public and private spaces, and by providing users with clear and accessible reporting mechanisms.

The Government is also working closely with industry, law enforcement, child protection organisations and the AI Security Institute to understand AI risks and improve safeguards across the AI ecosystem, to reduce opportunities for offenders to create, distribute and profit from AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

Schedule 14 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 – which enables the Secretary of State to make regulations relating to the reporting and registration of intimate image material - commenced on 29 June 2026, following Royal Assent on 29 April 2026.

The Government scoping exercise on the creation of a register of non-consensual intimate images is underway, and secondary legislation will follow in due course.

Section 66AE of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as inserted by Part 1 of Schedule 13 to the Crime and Policing Act 2026, creates an offence of making a copy of an intimate photograph or film shared temporarily and will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the effect on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance and train prosecutors and police officers.

Section 66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides information on how to interpret the “sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film” offences in section 66B. Section 66D(2) states, “A person “shares” something if the person, by any means, gives or shows it to another person or makes it available to another person.”

“By any means” would include the sharing of such images without consent using digital tools such as a chatbot, app or other software, if a person has requested or prompted the digital tool to do so, whether as part of the creation of the image or as a separate act.

Section 98 and Section 102 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the impact on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance as well as train prosecutors and police officers.

Section 66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides information on how to interpret the “sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film” offences in section 66B. Section 66D(2) states, “A person “shares” something if the person, by any means, gives or shows it to another person or makes it available to another person.”

“By any means” would include the sharing of such images without consent using digital tools such as a chatbot, app or other software, if a person has requested or prompted the digital tool to do so, whether as part of the creation of the image or as a separate act.

Section 98 and Section 102 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the impact on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance as well as train prosecutors and police officers.

Section 66D of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides information on how to interpret the “sharing or threatening to share intimate photograph or film” offences in section 66B. Section 66D(2) states, “A person “shares” something if the person, by any means, gives or shows it to another person or makes it available to another person.”

“By any means” would include the sharing of such images without consent using digital tools such as a chatbot, app or other software, if a person has requested or prompted the digital tool to do so, whether as part of the creation of the image or as a separate act.

Section 98 and Section 102 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will be commenced by regulations as soon as reasonably practicable. We must ensure that there is sufficient time to consider and manage the impact on the criminal justice system and for law enforcement to update guidance as well as train prosecutors and police officers.

Section 100 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which introduces a new requirement relating to the removal of reported non-consensual intimate images, commenced on 29 June 2026. The Online Safety Act 2023 provides for Ofcom to prepare and issue codes of practice setting out recommended measures for compliance with relevant duties.

The duty will apply to platforms once the relevant codes have completed the statutory process and come into force. The Government is clear this should happen as soon as possible and is working closely with Ofcom on implementation.

Under the Online Safety Act, deepfake content is regulated when it is shared on an in-scope service and meets the definition of either illegal content, or content which is harmful to children. The largest user-to-user services will also need to enforce their terms of service including in relation to AI generated content.

We have banned the creation of non-consensual sexual deepfakes, nudification apps, and criminalised AI models which have been optimised to create this content. We have updated the existing laws criminalising ‘paedophile manuals’ to cover the abuse of AI to produce Child Sexual Abuse Material.

We have also introduced new requirements on platforms and search services to remove non-consensual intimate images within 48 hours of a valid report and ensured that senior managers can be held criminally liable when platforms fail to meet their duties. We have also taken powers to bring currently unregulated chatbots within scope of the Online Safety Act’s illegal content duties.

We continue to explore technical solutions to support the transparency of AI-generated content, including through the Deepfake Detection Challenge, the AI Labelling Taskforce and media literacy work.

Section 66E of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides for the offence of creating a purported (or ‘deepfake’) intimate image of an adult without their consent or reasonable belief in their consent.

The offence applies regardless of the tool used to create the purported intimate image, so includes the creation of such images without consent using digital tools such as a “chatbot”, a nudification app, or image manipulation software.

Non-consensual intimate images, and the kinds of images that the hon. Lady talks about, are absolutely disgusting. This Government have taken action to ensure that they will be taken down within 48 hours, as well as our banning of deepfakes. We want to ensure that women are safe—whether in their homes, on their streets or online—and there is still more action to take.

Hundreds of women are secretly filmed on nights out. The clips are then put online, accompanied by horrible, misogynistic comments. They are viewed millions of times, often to make a profit. What steps is the Department taking to close the current gaps in legislation and stop this vile of abuse of women on nights out?

The Prime Minister announced on Monday 8 June that Britain would become the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share and view nude imagery; and that will work with tech companies for three months to ensure that comprehensive nudity detection is implemented at operating system level, with adults able to switch it off by proving they are over-18 through age assurance.

We are currently engaging with industry, with a focus on the primary operating system providers, to ensure that the government’s objective is met. If legislation is necessary in future, we will draft legislation to be effective and proportionate, applying appropriately to relevant parts of industry; and ensure maximum coverage of devices already in circulation.

This period of engagement with industry will focus on further refining technical solutions to prevent nude imagery from being taken, shared or viewed; which will include consideration of accuracy thresholds.

The Government has considered risks and workarounds during our development of this policy which is precisely why the Government considers action at operating system can provide the most comprehensive coverage to protect children from sending, viewing and sharing nude imagery. By engaging with industry we will continue to consider potential circumventions, and ensure that protections are as effective as possible in response, and that guidance is produced if necessary.

This policy currently applies to smartphone and tablet operating systems, and will apply to newly sold and existing devices – through operating system updates to supported devices.

The Prime Minister announced on Monday 8 June that Britain would become the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share and view nude imagery. We will work with tech companies for three months to ensure that comprehensive nudity detection is implemented at operating system level, with adults able to switch it off by proving they are over-18 through age assurance.

We have stated that, if companies do not act within three months, then the government will bring forward legislation to force them to activate the technology. This will include fines for companies. Whether legislation is necessary will be reviewed internally on an ongoing basis, dependent on progress from industry in meeting the government's stated objective. Criteria for success will be aligned to achieving comprehensive nudity detection implemented across smartphone and tablet operating systems. We will of course monitor the impact of these interventions, including through data from the third sector, and this will include measuring trends of self-generated child sexual abuse material.

Regarding when the Government will respond to the Growing up in the online world consultation: the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published a range of evidence which has been considered, and it plans to come back in July on further matters. The Secretary of State's intention is to lay before the House regulations on a ban, and to have a vote on them by the end of this year.

The Prime Minister announced on 8 June 2026 that the UK would become the first country in the world where it is impossible for children to take, share or view nude images on their devices. This will prevent predators from being able to exploit and abuse victims through their devices, as well as stopping children from being able to access pornography. Adults will still be able to take, share or view nude content through an age verification process. This will deliver on the commitment we made in the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy – Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls (accessible) - GOV.UK.

As part of that announcement, the Prime Minister committed to engage collaboratively with tech companies over the next three months so that they activate built-in features or implement technical solutions on smartphones and tablets to detect and block nude images for children. If companies do not act within three months, the government will bring forward legislation to force them to activate the technology.

This government takes the issue of online fraud, including fraudulent advertising, incredibly seriously. DSIT works closely with other departments to address online fraud, including the Home Office, who have overall responsibility for fraud policy.

The Online Safety Act has clear duties on providers to protect their users from fraud. This includes that regulated services must prevent users from encountering user-generated scam content, swiftly remove it if it appears, and mitigate and manage the risk of their services facilitating fraud. The largest services will also have to tackle fraudulent advertising once the relevant duties are in force. In July, Ofcom is expected to publish a register of categorised services and to launch a consultation on additional duties for those designated as Category 1 or 2A to tackle paid-for fraudulent advertising.

AI has huge potential benefits, but can also bring opportunities for criminals. The OSA regulates AI-generated media in the same way as ‘real’ content, and places the same obligations on services to protect their users.

To support compliance with Act duties, Ofcom issues Codes of Practice advising services on how to be compliant with their regulatory obligations. These Codes are expected to evolve over time to address new threats and new technologies.

Where social media companies do not fulfil their duties under the OSA, Ofcom, the independent regulator, has robust powers to act. This includes issuing fines of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue (whichever is greater) if services fail to live up to their regulatory obligations.

The Prime Minister announced on Monday 8 June that Britain would become the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share and view nude imagery. We will work with tech companies for three months to ensure that comprehensive nudity detection is implemented at operating system level, with adults able to switch it off by proving they are over-18 through age assurance.

Children are being exposed to sexual harm every single day. Grooming, sextortion, coercion into sending nude images, and early exposure to pornography are now common experiences for young people. A single image, shared under pressure or manipulation, can trap a child in a cycle of abuse.

Comprehensive nudity blocking at device-level would prevent children from being able to take, share and view nude imagery – thereby fundamentally disrupting grooming and sextortion.

We have stated that, if companies do not act within three months, then the government will bring forward legislation to force them to activate the technology. This will include fines for companies. Nothing is off the table, and as a last resort we are exploring criminal liability for tech bosses who fail to comply.