Protecting Children’s Digital Identity: Key Guidance from the NCA and IWF

Context

The NCA and IWF have issued landmark guidance urging parents to avoid posting children’s photos publicly online. The rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) increased by 14% in 2025, sadly revealing that images can now be manipulated into abuse content by criminals using publicly available tools.

The Unknowing
Many parents are unaware that innocent photos - from school gates to sports days - can be altered and used for extortion or blackmail. Cases include school websites being targeted and teenagers facing AI-generated fake nudes sourced from social media.

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Next Steps

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The guidance advises three key actions:

• Check privacy settings and share only via "close friends" groups.
• Audit old posts and remove or restrict visibility of children’s images.
• Review consent forms with schools/clubs and withdraw permission if needed.

Summary

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The message is clear: open discussions about image-sharing, regular social media audits, and saying "no" when uncomfortable are essential. As the IWF notes, if you want an image removed, you have every right to request it. Awareness is the first step to protection.

Read more: AI Child Sexual Abuse Imagery: Parent Safety Guide

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