Surrey based charity warns AI generated explicit images of children are on the rise

An Epsom-based child sexual abuse charity are warning that AI-generated explicit images of children are on the rise.

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation run a helpline called Stop It Now - for anyone concerned for their own sexual thoughts or someone they know.

They say that AI technology is worsening the 'epidemic' of online child sexual abuse, and there are serious consequences for those viewing these illegal images.

An AI-generated explicit image of child could be one that is fully synthetic, or in other words created from scratch.

However, real images of children who may be being abused, can also be modified through AI in a way that sexualises them.

The foundation want to emphasise that both of these types of AI images are illegal and harmful.

Dr Alexandra Bailey from The Lucy Faithfull Foundation says:

"It is an issue that is on the rise and unfortunately that also means the risk to children is on the rise.

"These images, even if they're AI images, its normalising the sexualisation of children,

"Also, these images may have real children in them, real children that have been abused are modified and sexualised in these photos.

"This can be re-victimisation for children so the harm is very, very real.

"The message we want to get across to people is that is doesn't matter whether someone is accessing AI or real sexual images of children - they are all illegal and they are all harmful."

Helpline Stop It Now can be accessed through the phone on 0808 1000 900, live chat and email support.

Stop It Now is for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse, including:

• Adults worried about the behaviour of other adults or children and young people
• Those worried about their own sexual thoughts or behaviour towards children, including those with concerns about their online behaviour
• Friends and relatives of people arrested for sexual offending, including internet offending
• Any other adult with a concern about child sexual abuse - including survivors and professionals

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