Rise in AI-Generated Child Abuse Videos Sparks Concern
The volume of AI-produced videos depicting child sexual abuse has grown significantly as offenders exploit advancements in artificial intelligence.
CuriosityNews reports that the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has warned that these AI-generated videos have reached a point where they are nearly impossible to distinguish from authentic recordings. The UK-based safety group noted a sharp rise in such material online this year.
Between January and June 2025, the IWF confirmed 1,286 illegal AI-generated videos containing abusive content involving children, up from just two cases during the same period in 2024. Over 1,000 of these videos were classified as category A, the most severe form of abusive material.
The influx of investment in AI technology has made advanced video-generation tools accessible, which offenders are now misusing. "It's a highly competitive industry with significant funding, leading to numerous options for those seeking to abuse these tools," explained an IWF analyst.
Reports of webpages hosting AI-generated abusive content surged by 400%, with 210 URLs flagged in the first half of 2025—compared to 42 in the previous year. Many of these pages contained hundreds of images alongside the sharp increase in video material.
One dark web post highlighted by the IWF showed an offender discussing rapid AI advancements, noting that as soon as they mastered one tool, a more advanced alternative emerged.
Analysts believe many of these videos were created by modifying freely available AI models with explicit material, refining them to produce highly realistic depictions. In some instances, models were adjusted using only a few existing videos.
The most convincing AI-generated abuse videos detected this year were based on real victims, according to the watchdog.
Derek Ray-Hill, interim head of the IWF, warned that the growing sophistication and accessibility of AI models could lead to an overwhelming increase in abusive content.
"If unchecked, AI-generated material could flood the open internet, accelerating crimes like child exploitation and trafficking," he said. The reuse of existing victims' images in AI-generated content also allows offenders to multiply abusive material without new victims.
New UK legislation criminalizes the possession, creation, or sharing of AI tools designed to produce such material. Violators could face up to five years in prison. Additionally, possessing guides on using AI for abusive purposes will carry a sentence of up to three years.
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