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Parents should not publicly post images of their children online due to the growth of AI-generated abuse imagery, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned.<\/b><\/p>\n
Along with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), it said there is a growing threat of children’s images online being used to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM).<\/p>\n
More than 8,000 AI-generated images and videos of realistic child sexual abuse were identified by the IWF in 2025, it said – adding this was a 14% increase on the year before.<\/p>\n
“While we and policing colleagues tackle offenders, prevention remains vital,” said Tim Wright, a senior manager at the NCA.<\/p>\n
In partnership with the IWF, the organisation has released fresh guidance for parents outlining steps they can take to help keep their children safe online.<\/p>\n
It says parents should review their privacy settings or make a “close friends” group for parents keen to share images<\/p>\n
“AI is becoming a part of everyday life,” the guidance states.<\/p>\n
“Whilst it has many benefits, it can also be misused \u2013 including by those who use it to make, manipulate and share nude, semi-nude or sexual images and videos of children.” <\/p>\n
The IWF said its analysts had identified 13 AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse in 2024 – but in 2025 this number had increased to 3,440.<\/p>\n
This imagery is considered CSAM in the UK.<\/p>\n
The government has sought to tackle AI abuse threats to children, in particular young girls, by banning so-called “nudification” apps<\/a> and tweaking laws to help AI firms make sure their systems cannot be used to produce CSAM.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n