Parents Warned Over Sharing Children's Images Online Due to AI Abuse Risks
The UK's National Crime Agency and Internet Watch Foundation have issued a warning that children's images shared online are at risk of being used to create child sexual abuse material via AI.
Parents are being urged to exercise caution when sharing images of their children on public online platforms, according to an alert from the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). The organisations cite the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) as a factor enabling the creation and manipulation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) using children's publicly available images.
The IWF reported identifying over 8,000 AI-generated images and videos depicting child sexual abuse in 2025, a 14% increase from the previous year. Tim Wright, a senior manager at the NCA, stressed that while law enforcement tackles offenders, prevention remains a critical component.
In response, the NCA and IWF have released updated guidance for parents on safeguarding children online. The advice highlights how AI can be misused to create, alter, and distribute nude, semi-nude, or sexualised content involving children. Key recommendations include reviewing social media privacy settings, limiting post visibility, and curating content shared within trusted circles. Parents are also advised to check past image sharing, remove identifying details, and re-evaluate image consent with schools and clubs.