Parents Advised to Avoid Public Sharing of Children's Images Amid Rising AI Abuse Threats
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a warning to parents advising against publicly posting images of their children online, citing the increasing prevalence of AI-generated abusive imagery. Alongside the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the NCA highlighted the growing risk that children’s images shared online could be exploited to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to the IWF, more than 8,000 AI-generated images and videos depicting realistic child sexual abuse were identified in 2025, marking a 14% increase compared to the previous year.
"While we and policing colleagues tackle offenders, prevention remains vital," said Tim Wright, a senior manager at the NCA.
In collaboration with the IWF, the NCA has published updated guidance for parents detailing measures to help protect children online. The guidance recommends that parents review privacy settings or create "close friends" groups for sharing images selectively.
"AI is becoming a part of everyday life," the guidance states. "Whilst it has many benefits, it can also be misused – including by those who use it to make, manipulate and share nude, semi-nude or sexual images and videos of children."
The IWF reported that its analysts identified 13 AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse in 2024, which surged to 3,440 in 2025. Such imagery is classified as CSAM under UK law.
The UK government has taken steps to address AI-related threats to children, particularly young girls, by banning "nudification" apps and amending legislation to assist AI companies in preventing their systems from being exploited to produce CSAM.
Steps for Parents
The NCA and IWF emphasize that the guidance aims to support parents in understanding the specific dangers posed by CSAM and the expanding role of AI in its creation.
"Hearing about this as a parent or carer can feel alarming, but you are not alone," the guidance states. "It's important to know there are steps you can take, many of which you may already be doing, to help better protect your child."
The guidance outlines three primary actions for parents and s:
- Review privacy settings – Utilize privacy controls available in most social media apps under Settings to restrict post visibility or set accounts to private.
- Check social media accounts – Examine content previously shared by parents or family members to ensure identifying details such as a child's face or school uniform are not visible, or consider deleting certain images.
- Revisit image consent – Communicate with friends, family, and institutions attended by the child, such as schools or clubs, regarding the taking and use of images, and review any signed consent forms.
The guidance also suggests involving children in conversations about how and where their images are taken or shared, which can empower them to express discomfort or decline permission.
Sharenting Concerns
This advice follows longstanding warnings from child safety experts and organizations about the risks associated with "sharenting"—a term added to the Collins English Dictionary in 2016 that describes parents sharing images or videos of their children on social media.
Experts have cautioned that such sharing can expose children to unforeseen risks including identity theft, fraud, and violations of privacy as they mature. The enhanced capabilities and accessibility of AI tools that can manipulate images—such as creating the appearance that a person’s clothing has been removed—have intensified these concerns.
"We don't want to say don't share your children's images with the people you love and trust, but we want everyone to be aware of the potential risks and make an informed decision with the full facts at their disposal," said IWF chief Kerry Smith. "These are not hypothetical threats, they are real."
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