The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a UK-based organization dedicated to monitoring and removing illegal online content, has released data indicating a rapid proliferation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. According to the report, the foundation has assessed 6,310 images that meet the legal definition of child sexual abuse within the first six months of 2026. This figure represents a 40% increase over the 4,500 instances recorded throughout the previous year.

The IWF notes that these AI-generated images are becoming increasingly photorealistic, complicating detection and moderation efforts. The data highlights a growing trend in the use of generative artificial intelligence to create illegal content, with the volume of material identified in the first half of the current year already exceeding the total count for all of 2025. The foundation continues to track these developments globally as part of its mandate to combat the distribution of such material online.