‘Sexual AI images using kids’ photos proliferate’At least 1.2 million youngsters have disclosed having had their images manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year, according to a study across 11 countries conducted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), international police agency Interpol and the ECPAT global network working to end the sexual exploitation of children worldwide. MANILA, Philippines — New evidence revealed a proliferation of sexualized images of youngsters generated by artificial intelligence (AI), the United Nations children’s agency warned. The risks can be compounded when generative AI tools are embedded directly into social media platforms where manipulated images spread rapidly. UNICEF called for immediate action from governments to expand definitions of child sexual abuse material to include AI-generated content and criminalize its creation, procurement, possession and distribution. Digital companies are also called to prevent the circulation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, not merely remove it, and strengthen content moderation with investment in detection technologies.

Source: Philippine Star February 05, 2026 16:44 UTC