Rishi Sunak warns of surge in artificial intelligence-generated child abuse images

Rishi Sunak is set to host a global AI summit this fall. Credit: Simon Walker/10 Downing Street

The IWF is acting on reports from members of the public to warn ISPs and websites to block images and foreign counterparts. The company said it began receiving reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material in May.

Dan Sexton, IWF Chief Technology Officer, said most of this content is illegal. We have the necessary tools, the same is not necessarily true internationally, and there is some ambiguity about illegality.”

The IWF said it also calls on technology companies to ensure that images of child abuse are not used . in the data they use to train their systems and that it cannot be used to create material.

The National Crime Agency said the explosion of fake child abuse images could make it difficult to keep real children suffering from abuse.

Chris Farrimond of the NCA said: “There is a very real possibility that the increase in AI-generated material could greatly impact law enforcement resources, increasing the time we need to identify real children in need protection.