AI is becoming more powerful by the day, and the challenge of keeping children safe is growing with it.
We would not expect children to protect themselves from sexual abuse in schools, clubs or youth organisations so why would we adopt such an approach online?
At Labour Party Conference 2026, the IWF hosted a panel with Online Safety Minister Ian Murray MP, Jess Phillips MP, Catherine Reader of FlippGen and IWF Chief Executive Kerry Smith. The discussion covered record levels of child sexual abuse material, the Government’s proposed feature-based restrictions on social media for under-16s, the risk of harm being displaced into encrypted spaces, and the need for faster Ofcom enforcement. Panellists agreed that no single measure is enough, and that safety must be built into technology, including AI, from the start.
Research report by PIER at Anglia Ruskin University, providing insight into girls and their parents' understanding of self-generated CSAM.
This report conducted in collaboration with the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER) highlights the gravity of self-generated child sexual abuse material.
Discover the latest data and insights in the fight against online child sexual abuse imagery in the 2025 Annual data & insights report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).
Discover the latest trends & data in the fight against online child sexual abuse imagery in the 2023 Annual Report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).
Reports involving sexual extortion are on the rise as criminals become more ‘adept’ at targeting younger children.
Internet Watch Foundation calls for partnership ahead of landmark Vatican conference.