Rising number of UK children report seeing explicit deepfakes of themselves
Summary
Children in the UK have reported a rise in fake explicit images of themselves created using artificial intelligence (AI). Groups that help remove these images warn that AI tools make it easier to create harmful content, and they urge tech companies to add better safety protections.Key Facts
- In the first six months of 2026, 420 reports were made by children about fake explicit images of themselves, surpassing the total for 2025.
- The Report Remove service helps block and take down manipulated intimate images from the internet.
- Many of the reported images met the legal threshold for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the UK.
- The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and NSPCC run Report Remove and warn the rise is linked to AI making deepfake creation easier.
- AI-generated CSAM is illegal in the UK, including creating or sharing AI models designed for abuse material.
- Victims of deepfake images have sometimes been targeted for sextortion, where the abuser demands money or more explicit images.
- Experts advise parents to keep children's photos private online to reduce the risk of misuse.
- Tech companies are called on to add strong protections in AI tools to prevent the creation of harmful fake images.
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