The internet is “magnifying” risks of sexual abuse for children a major new report has warned.
AI-generated child sexual abuse is on the agenda at the White House as Internet Watch Foundation CEO Susie Hargreaves flies to Washington to discuss how to address the rising threat.
Domain .ME, the registry for the .ME domain extension, has partnered with the Internet Watch Foundation to help put an end to child sexual abuse imagery online
Alarming increase in online grooming and child sexual abuse imagery, particularly among under 10s, in 2023 as reported by the IWF.
Discover how IWF collaborates globally to eradicate online child sexual abuse, focusing on innovation, partnerships and safeguarding efforts.
Expert analysts have taken action against 200,000 websites containing child sexual abuse material
The European Parliament is taking a decisive stand against the rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (AI-CSAM), co-hosting a high-level briefing with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to address this urgent threat. With a 380% increase in AI-CSAM reports in 2024, the Parliament is pushing for robust legal reforms through the proposed Child Sexual Abuse Directive. Key priorities include criminalising all forms of AI-generated CSAM, removing legal loopholes such as the “personal use” exemption, and enhancing cross-border enforcement. The IWF and the European Child Sexual Abuse Legislation Advocacy Group (ECLAG) urge the Council of the EU to align with Parliament’s strong stance to protect children and support survivors. This article highlights the scale of the threat, the evolving technology behind synthetic abuse imagery, and the critical need for updated EU legislation.
IWF analysts have worked through the coronavirus lockdown to make sure children are kept safe.
This report conducted in collaboration with the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER) highlights the gravity of self-generated child sexual abuse material.