AI-generated child sexual abuse material surges 400% in first half of 2025
AI-generated child sexual abuse material experienced a 400% surge in webpages in the first half of 2025 according to the UK's Internet Watch Foundation, with videos becoming nearly indistinguishable from real abuse footage. The watchdog attributed the increase to accessible video-generation models being exploited by perpetrators sharing techniques on dark web forums, prompting the UK government to introduce legislation with prison sentences for creation and distribution.
What happened
AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) surged dramatically in the first half of 2025, according to the Internet Watch Foundation. The organization recorded 210 webpages containing AI-generated CSAM in the first six months of 2025, up from 42 in the same period in 2024—a 400% increase. These pages contained 1,286 videos, compared to just two in 2024.
According to the IWF, just over 1,000 of the verified videos depicted category A abuse, the most severe classification of child abuse material. The IWF noted that the majority of this content was so realistic it had to be treated under UK law as if it were actual footage, having 'crossed the threshold' of being nearly indistinguishable from real abuse imagery.
The IWF found that pedophiles are actively discussing and sharing techniques to manipulate AI models on dark web forums, and are fine-tuning freely available video-generation models using small numbers of real CSAM videos to produce disturbingly realistic abuse content.
Reported impact
Derek Ray-Hill, interim chief executive of the IWF, warned of the 'incredible risk' posed by AI-generated CSAM, expressing fears that it could lead to an 'absolute explosion' of such content. He emphasized that growth in AI-made child abuse material could fuel criminal activities related to child trafficking, sexual abuse, and modern slavery.
Index analysis
Analysts at the IWF attributed this alarming trend to multibillion-dollar investments in the AI industry, resulting in widely available video-generation models that are being exploited by perpetrators. The ease of access to these tools and rapid advancements in AI technology have created conditions enabling the creation and dissemination of CSAM.
Governance controls
The UK government responded to this threat by introducing new legislation to combat AI-generated CSAM. Under the proposed laws, individuals found to possess, create, or distribute AI tools designed to create abuse content could face up to five years in prison, and possessing manuals teaching how to use AI tools to make abusive imagery could carry sentences of up to three years.
In the United States, 38 states have laws against AI-generated child pornography, while 12 states and Washington DC have not yet taken action.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.