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Emerging Threats

New and rapidly evolving digital risks to children

AI-Generated CSAM & Deepfakes

Full Crisis Protocol: Nude Images Found/Shared Educator Incident Guidance

AI image-generation tools — including so-called "nudify" apps — can create sexualised or fake images of a real child without their consent, by manipulating an ordinary photo. This is AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and it is treated with the same severity as real CSAM under UK law and by reporting bodies.

Deepfakes use the same underlying face-swapping technology for other harmful purposes, including bullying, harassment, or making a child appear to say or do something they never did.

Immediate Actions

  • Do not view, forward, or store any suspected AI-generated CSAM — even to show another adult
  • Report to CEOP (ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting) and to IWF (iwf.org.uk) immediately
  • If a school is involved, follow the same escalation as any other safeguarding incident — see the Educator Portal's Incident Management guide

Sextortion

Full Crisis Protocol: Sextortion / Blackmail

Sextortion is blackmail using real or AI-generated intimate images. The NCA reports a 300% increase in AI-enabled sextortion targeting UK teenagers, with targets primarily 14-16 year old boys approached on Instagram and Snapchat.

The person being blackmailed is always the victim of a crime — never the person at fault, regardless of how the images were obtained or created.

Immediate Actions

  • Do not pay any money or comply with demands — it almost never stops the demands
  • Do not delete conversations — they are evidence
  • Report to police (101, or 999 if there are threats to life) and to CEOP immediately
  • Contact the Revenge Porn Helpline (0345 6000 459) for image removal support

VR/AR for Children

Guidance on risks specific to virtual and augmented reality environments is in preparation — this is a fast-moving area and we want the specifics reviewed before publishing them.

AUREN

Guardian AI

AUREN chat is temporarily offline for scheduled improvements. Please check back soon.

For immediate help: • 999 — if someone is in immediate danger • Childline: 0800 1111 — free, confidential support • CEOP — ceop.police.uk for online exploitation

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