The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) has urged parents and carers to avoid sharing children’s photos publicly online, warning that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
In new guidance issued jointly with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the agencies advised families to make their social media accounts private or limit photo sharing to “close friends” groups.
Officials said the guidance is intended to raise awareness of the growing risks posed by AI-generated abuse material, rather than dictate how parents should use social media.
The recommendations also encourage parents to review older photos already posted online, check privacy settings, and reconsider consent agreements with schools and sports clubs that allow children’s images to be shared.
The guidance outlines three key steps: strengthening privacy settings, restricting access to children’s photos, and discussing consent for image sharing with organisations.