Parents should stop publicly posting images of their children online because of a surge in AI-generated child sexual abuse material, the National Crime Agency has warned.
In 2025, the Internet Watch Foundation identified more than 8,000 AI-generated images and videos of realistic child sexual abuse – a 14% increase on the previous year. The number of AI-generated videos alone leapt from 13 in 2024 to 3,440 in 2025, the IWF said.
“NCA warns parents not to share children's images online as AI-generated child abuse imagery surged 14% in 2025.”
“While we and policing colleagues tackle offenders, prevention remains vital,” said Tim Wright, a senior manager at the NCA.
Working with the IWF, the NCA has released fresh guidance for parents outlining steps to keep children safe. It says parents should review their privacy settings or create a “close friends” group for sharing images. The guidance warns: “AI is becoming a part of everyday life. Whilst it has many benefits, it can also be misused – including by those who use it to make, manipulate and share nude, semi-nude or sexual images and videos of children.”
The advice points to three main actions: review privacy settings on social media to limit visibility; check what has already been shared to ensure identifying details such as a child’s face or school uniform cannot be seen; and revisit image consent with friends, family, schools or clubs. The guidance also suggests including children in discussions about how and where their image is taken or shared, to help them feel comfortable saying no.
“Hearing about this as a parent or carer can feel alarming, but you are not alone,” the guidance states. “It’s important to know there are steps you can take, many of which you may already be doing, to help better protect your child.”
The government has already banned so-called “nudification” apps and amended laws to help AI firms prevent their systems being used to produce child sexual abuse material.
