UK Agencies Advise Parents to Restrict Children's Photos on Social Media over AI-CSAM Risks

The National Crime Agency and the Internet Watch Foundation issued guidance on July 3 advising parents not to post images of their children on public social media accounts. The agencies cited the growing use of such images to create AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

The IWF identified 8,029 AI-generated images and videos of realistic child sexual abuse material in 2025, a 14 percent increase from the prior year.

The number of AI-generated videos rose from 13 in 2024 to 3,440 in 2025. The guidance recommends that parents review privacy settings, make accounts private, or limit sharing to a close-friends group. It also calls for auditing existing posts for images showing children's faces, bodies, or school uniforms and for reviewing consent forms signed with schools, nurseries, or clubs.

Tim Wright, a senior manager at the NCA, said prevention remains vital alongside law enforcement efforts. Lorna Sinclair, a child sexual abuse education manager at the NCA, noted that most parents do not consider the risk that images could be scraped and turned into CSAM. Kerry Smith, the IWF's chief executive, said the threats are real and that parents should make informed decisions.

Dan Sexton, the IWF's chief technology officer, stated he was very uncomfortable advising against public display of children's photos but saw no other option. The UK government has banned nudification apps and amended laws to prevent AI systems from producing CSAM.

An early warning working group that includes the NCA and IWF has recommended that schools remove identifiable pictures of pupils' faces from their websites and social media accounts.