Analysis of the Increase in AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material

Apr 27, 2026, 09:01

Introduction

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has published an annual report showing a significant increase in the creation and sharing of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) between 2024 and 2025.

Main Body

Data from the IWF shows that reports of realistic AI-generated CSAM rose from 193 in 2024 to 491 in 2025, which is an increase of over 150 percent. Even more concerning is the rise in video content, which jumped from 13 cases in 2024 to 3,443 in 2025. The IWF attributes this growth to the rise of 'nudifying' bots and the use of text-to-video and image-to-video technology. Furthermore, the organization noted that this content is appearing on mainstream social media ads and AI companion platforms, as well as on the dark web. From a technical perspective, the IWF claims that AI-generated images are more often classified as the most severe category (Category A) than non-AI content. However, 47 percent of criminal AI images from the last two years were placed in Category C. The foundation emphasized that these materials often use the physical features of real victims, either by modifying existing abuse content or using specific training data. As a result, this technology extends the harm caused to real children. Regarding laws and regulations, the Online Safety Act requires social media companies to find and remove CSAM. However, experts like Ian Russell have criticized the legislation, asserting that it is not ambitious enough to protect children. While the UK government plans to allow authorities to check AI models and make the possession of AI tools for creating CSAM illegal, the IWF argues that there is still a legal gap regarding safety testing before software is released. Consequently, the foundation is calling for a 'safety by design' requirement for all technology developers.

Conclusion

The current situation is defined by a rapid increase in the amount and quality of AI-generated CSAM. This has led the UK government to increase criminal penalties, while the IWF continues to push for mandatory safety standards across the industry.

Vocabulary Learning

ambitious (adj.)

ambitious / having a strong desire to achieve success雄心勃勃

Example:She is an ambitious entrepreneur who aims to launch a startup.

attribute (v.)

attribute / to ascribe or credit歸因；歸屬

Example:The researchers attribute the increase to new technology.

gap (n.)

gap / a space between two objects or a difference空隙；差距

Example:There is a gap between the two buildings.

mandatory (adj.)

mandatory / required by law or rule強制的；必須

Example:Attendance at the meeting is mandatory for all staff.

severity (n.)

severity / the great seriousness or harshness嚴重性；嚴厲程度

Example:The severity of the disease can vary between patients.

Sentence Learning

Data from the IWF shows that reports of realistic AI-generated CSAM rose from 193 in 2024 to 491 in 2025, which is an increase of over 150 percent.

Relative Clause: The clause 'which is an increase of over 150 percent' provides additional information about the rise in numbers, using the relative pronoun 'which' to refer back to the entire preceding clause.關係子句: 子句 'which is an increase of over 150 percent' 為前面整個句子提供額外資訊，使用關係代詞 'which' 指代前面的整個事件。

From a technical perspective, the IWF claims that AI-generated images are more often classified as the most severe category (Category A) than non-AI content.

Passive Voice: The verb phrase 'are classified' is in the passive form, indicating that the action of classifying is performed on the images by an unspecified agent.被動語態: 動詞片語 'are classified' 為被動語態，表示動作是對圖像施加的，施動者未被明確指出。

While the UK government plans to allow authorities to check AI models and make the possession of AI tools for creating CSAM illegal, the IWF argues that there is still a legal gap regarding safety testing before software is released.

Contrastive Conjunction: The word 'While' introduces a contrast between the government's plans and the IWF's concerns, showing that the two statements are related but differ in viewpoint.對照連詞: 'While' 連接兩個相對立的觀點，顯示政府的計劃與 IWF 的關切雖相關但立場不同。

As a result, this technology extends the harm caused to real children.

Causal Phrase: 'As a result' signals that the following clause explains the consequence of earlier information, linking cause and effect.因果短語: 'As a result' 表示後面的句子說明先前資訊的結果，連接因果關係。