Reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery soar by 154% in a year

Published:  Mon 27 Apr 2026

Experts have warned of a “rapid, frightening advancement” in the ability to artificially generate child sexual abuse imagery (CSAM), as new data showed reports have surged by more than 150 per cent in one year.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said it had received 491 reports that contained realistic AI-generated CSAM in 2025, up from 193 in 2024.

In its annual report, released on Thursday, the charity said during 2025 it had seen AI CSAM take on “new forms”, including on AI companion sites and adverts on mainstream social media sites.

Read the full article at The Independent.

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