UNICEF warns of surge in AI-generated child sexual abuse material
UNICEF reported that at least 1.2 million children across 11 countries had their images manipulated to create sexually explicit deepfakes and synthetic nudes. The chatbot Grok was found generating such images despite explicit non-consent warnings, prompting xAI to restrict its image capabilities. UNICEF called for countries to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
What happened
UNICEF reported in February 2026 that at least 1.2 million children across 11 countries had their images manipulated to create sexually explicit deepfakes or synthetic nude images over the preceding year.
The chatbot Grok, developed by xAI, was found by Reuters to continue generating sexualized images of minors despite users explicitly stating the subjects had not consented. xAI announced on 14 January that it had restricted image editing for Grok users and blocked generation of images of people in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where it is illegal.
Reported impact
UNICEF stated that the harm from deepfake abuse is real and urgent. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported receiving over 36 million reports of online child sexual abuse material in 2024, with an increasing proportion consisting of images generated or altered using AI, including deepfakes and synthetic nudes.
In some of the countries studied, up to two-thirds of interviewed children expressed concern about AI being used to create false sexual or video images of them.
Index analysis
UNICEF called for countries to criminalize the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse content and urged AI developers to implement safety-by-design approaches and safeguards to prevent misuse. The organization also called on digital companies to prevent circulation of such images through stronger content moderation and investment in detection technologies.
Britain announced plans to become the first country to criminalize the use of AI tools to create images of child sexual abuse.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.