The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and more than 65 child rights organisations are urgently calling on EU leaders to get vital child sexual abuse legislation ‘back on track’ to making the internet a safer place for children, following a vote by the European Parliament votes that dramatically limits the scope of the regulation.
IWF join ECLAG coalition colleagues outside the EU Parliament in Brussels to highlight the importance of passing the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation.
Dan explains the vital role the proposal could have in preventing the widespread sexual abuse, rape, and sexual torture of child victims online.
13 organisations launch campaign to stop the spread of child sexual abuse material online
IWF used to receive some funding from the European Union’s EU Safer Internet Programme. This is now provided by Nominet.
New data reveals AI child sexual abuse continues to spread online as criminals create more realistic, and more extreme, imagery.
EU countries urged to have ‘courage’ and push for better laws to protect children at IWF’s annual report launch in Brussels
The debate on the EU’s proposed Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR) has been dominated by one loud slogan. A slogan which may have dire consequences for the safety and wellbeing of millions of children worldwide.
The IWF’s latest AI report exposes rapidly escalating harms to children as the EU moves to scale back the tools that detect and remove child sexual abuse material online. The charity warns that the EU must act urgently to criminalise AI‑generated abuse and preserve essential detection systems before risks intensify further.
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.