Record increase in artificial intelligence-generated child abuse content

There is a rapid increase in illegal child sexual abuse content created using artificial intelligence. The number of cases investigated in 2026 exceeded the total for all of 2025 by 40 percent before the year was out.

According to the data of the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the organization's analysts have examined 6,310 images produced with artificial intelligence and legally considered child sexual abuse material so far this year. In all of 2025, this number was just over 4,500.

IWF reported that the number of photorealistic AI-generated exploit images detected in the first six months of 2026 alone exceeded the total recorded in all of 2025.

It was stated that most of the content examined included girls, and children between the ages of 7 and 13 were most frequently targeted.

REAL PHOTOS OF CHILDREN ARE ALSO MANIPULATED

The problem is not limited to fake images produced from scratch. Artificial intelligence tools are also used to transform or alter real photographs of children into sexually explicit images.

The Report Remove service, which helps remove personal images from the internet, received 420 applications from children in 2026. In the applications, children reported that they thought their photographs had been manipulated or artificially made sexually explicit.

This number exceeds the 397 applications recorded in all of 2025.

At the beginning of the year, sexually explicit images of children produced by Grok also attracted reaction, and the platform acknowledged the deficiencies in security measures.

In February, authorities in Spain launched an investigation against Meta, X, and TikTok due to child sexual abuse content created through artificial intelligence.

CALL FOR TIGHTER LAWS

IWF argues that the new data shows the need for binding and stricter rules for artificial intelligence systems.

According to the organization, companies should implement security measures at the design stage to prevent their models from being easily used in the production of illegal content.

In the UK, child sexual abuse material is considered illegal whether it is produced from a real abuse case or created with artificial intelligence.

It is also a crime to modify or distribute artificial intelligence models specifically designed to produce such content. Violations can result in up to five years in prison.

IWF and the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) have called on parents and carers not to share photos of children publicly on social media.

Authorities recommend that children's photos be shared only with a limited group of users or that the accounts be kept private.