Parents should not publish images of their children online as AI-generated images of abuse are on the rise, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned.
The group, along with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), said there was a growing threat that images of children online were being used to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
IWF announced that more than 8,000 AI-generated realistic images and videos of child sexual abuse were identified in 2025, adding that this was a 14% increase from the previous year.
Tim Wright, senior manager at the NCA, said: “While we and our police colleagues tackle criminals, prevention remains key.”
In collaboration with IWF, we have published new guidance outlining steps parents can take to keep their children safe online.
It says parents should review their privacy settings or create a “close friends” group for parents who want to share images.
The guidance states that “AI is becoming a part of everyday life.”
“While this has many benefits, it also has the potential for misuse, including by those who use it to create, manipulate, and share nude, semi-nude, or sexual images and videos of children.”
IWF said analysts identified 13 AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse in 2024, but that number rose to 3,440 in 2025.
This image is considered CSAM in the UK.
Governments are trying to address the threat of AI abuse against children, especially young girls, by banning so-called “nude” apps and adjusting laws to prevent AI companies from using their systems to generate CSAM.
