AI aggravates child sexual abuse: AI-generated realistic images and videos increased by 14% in 2025

“Each new advance in generative AI is praised for its ability to improve realism, increase severity, or make any imaginable sexual scenario with a minor more immersive,” the IWF has detailed, while warning that this realism can be achieved by “adding audio to video, the ability to depict multiple people interacting, or even the successful manipulation of images of a real minor known to the aggressor.”

An example of the ease of generating images of child sexual abuse was recently seen on the social network

The organization’s analysts have even caught criminals talking about the possibilities of using this technology in the future. Specifically, use an “automated AI” that “in one or two years” can create films of abuse “by introducing a slogan to an uncensored AI agent.”

Security approach needed in AI companies and legislation

As IWF executive director Kerry Smith clarified in a statement, technological advances “should never be detrimental to the safety and well-being of a child.” Therefore, he added that while AI can offer many benefits, “it is terrifying to think that its power could be used to ruin a child’s life. This material is dangerous.”

Following this line, he has highlighted the urgent need for governments and technology companies themselves to recognize the damage caused by this type of child sexual abuse practices generated by AI, as well as the tools used to create it. “There must be zero tolerance,” he declared.

In this regard, it has urged companies to adopt a “by design” approach to safety that guarantees child protection integrated into product development. That is, for example, it is the chatbots themselves that prevent the creation of these images.

The report has been published after the European Parliament has approved a temporary extension of the Electronic Privacy Directive, which extends the exemption to privacy legislation that allows the voluntary detection of online child abuse material until August 3, 2027, instead of next April 3 as planned.

Specifically, it is a partial repeal of data protection rules in the electronic communications sector that allows providers of communications services – such as messaging services – to use specific technologies for the processing of personal and other data in order to detect sexual abuse of minors on the Internet.