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AI & Machine Learning

UK Warns Against Posting Kids' Photos

WireByte Staff · July 5, 2026

UK's National Crime Agency warns parents not to post children's images publicly due to a 14% rise in AI-generated abuse imagery, with 8,029 images and videos found in 2025.

Key points

  • The UK's National Crime Agency and Internet Watch Foundation issued a warning to parents about posting children's images publicly.
  • In 2025, the Internet Watch Foundation found 8,029 AI-generated abuse images and videos, a 14% increase from the previous year.
  • AI-generated abuse videos rose from 13 in 2024 to 3,440 in 2025, a significant increase.
  • The joint guidance advises parents to lock down privacy settings and audit old posts to prevent abuse.
  • Under UK law, AI-generated abuse imagery is treated as child sexual abuse material, regardless of how it was made.

The UK's National Crime Agency and Internet Watch Foundation have issued a warning to parents about the dangers of posting children's images publicly. This warning comes as a result of a significant rise in AI-generated abuse imagery. In 2025, the Internet Watch Foundation found 8,029 AI-generated abuse images and videos, which represents a 14% increase from the previous year. The most striking growth was seen in AI-generated abuse videos, which rose from just 13 in 2024 to 3,440 in 2025. The joint guidance provided by the National Crime Agency and the Internet Watch Foundation advises parents to take steps to protect their children's online presence. This includes locking down privacy settings and reviewing old posts to ensure they are not publicly accessible. Parents are also advised to restrict posts to trusted groups, such as a 'close friends' list. The issue of AI-generated abuse imagery is a serious concern, as it is treated as child sexual abuse material under UK law, regardless of how it was made. As such, it is essential for parents to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect their children. The warning from the National Crime Agency and the Internet Watch Foundation serves as a reminder of the importance of online safety and the need for parents to be vigilant when it comes to their children's online presence.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.