Online Child Safety: Combating the Rise of AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

Online Child Safety: Combating the Rise of AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)

The internet has always been a place of possibilities. Through social media platforms, we connect with loved ones, learn new skills, and explore endless opportunities. But alongside all that good, there’s also a darker side, and minors are often the most vulnerable.

Now, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), a new challenge has emerged: AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM). CSAM has alywas been an issues, even before the rise of AI. However, with the help of AI, these material can now be easily created and spread across the internet, way more than ever. It’s a topic we can’t ignore. Let’s break it down together.

What Is AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material?

AI-generated child sexual abuse material (AIG-CSAM) refers to synthetic images or videos created with artificial intelligence that depict children in sexual situations. Some of these images are entirely fabricated, while others are “deepfakes,” which take real photos of children and alter them to appear sexually explicit without their knowledge or consent.

That means a harmless school photo uploaded online could be misused in unimaginable ways, no thanks to AI.

How is Generative AI Being Misused to Exploit Children?

One of the most troubling aspects of this issue is just how simple it has become for people, even children, to misuse AI. Here are a few ways it’s happening:

1. Deepfake Images and Altered Photos

AI can create fake but very realistic images of children. In some cases, even innocent pictures, like a school portrait or a family photo posted online, are digitally manipulated into explicit content.

The result? Images that leave victims humiliated, violated, and without control over their own the situation.

2. “Nudifier” Apps

So-called “nudify” apps allow users to digitally undress or sexualize photos in seconds. In 2024, advertisements for these tools even appeared on mainstream platforms, causing outrage over how accessible and normalized they had become.

3. Peer Misuse and School-Based Harms

Disturbingly, it’s not just adult offenders using these tools. Children themselves are misusing nudifier apps to target their classmates and peers. According to a Thorn study, one in eight minors reported knowing someone who had created fake nudes of other kids with AI.

Why is AI-Generated CSAM a Growing Concern?

So why is this such a big issue?

1. One of the most pressing concerns is the sheer scale of the problem. Investigators already face overwhelming amounts of child sexual abuse material online. With AI tools generating vast amounts of synthetic content, the workload grows even heavier. This makes it harder to find cases where real children are being abused and urgently need protection.

2. The realism of these images adds another layer of difficulty. Deepfakes and synthetic material often look indistinguishable from authentic photos. This blurs the line for victims, who feel the same emotional toll as if the images were genuine, and for law enforcement, who must carefully sort through cases to identify real children.

3. There is also the growing use of AI in sextortion scams. Offenders can create fake nude images of a child and then threaten to share them unless the child provides more explicit content or money. Even when the photos are fabricated, the fear, shame, and manipulation are devastatingly real.

All of this adds up to more than individual harm. It’s becoming a crisis that stretches beyond families and puts pressure on the very systems meant to keep children safe.

What Can Parents, Guardians, and Communities Do?

As overwhelming as this issue feels, there are concrete steps we can take to protect children:

• Be mindful of what you share. Limit posting identifiable photos of children online, especially public posts.

• Talk openly with kids. Teach them about online privacy and the importance of keeping personal information safe.

• Use parental controls. They’re not perfect, but they add a layer of protection.

• Report suspicious content. If you ever come across a CSAM, report it immediately to the platform or hotlines like NCMEC’s CyberTipline.

• Support awareness efforts. Share knowledge and back organizations fighting online exploitation.

A Shared Responsibility

AI is powerful, and can be used for many amazing things. But as with any good tool, it can also be misused, especially in spreading deepfakes and harmful sexual content online. This further shows that protecting children online requires a collective effort. Parents, communities, tech companies, and governments all have a role to play.

No doubt, technology will keep evolving. But so must our efforts to make the digital world a safe space for our kids. At the end of the day, keeping kids safe online isn’t just about policies or tools. It’s about responsibility. And that’s something we all share.