Internet Watch Foundation finds 260-fold increase in AI-generated CSAM in just one year, and ‘it’s the tip of the iceberg’

The Internet Watch Foundation documented a 260-fold increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material in 2025 (from 13 to 3,443 videos), signaling a critical failure mode for generative AI systems. Researchers note this is likely only the detected portion, and the technology is enabling new forms of harm: revictimization of historical abuse survivors, normalization of exploitation, and investigator overwhelm. The rapid commoditization of image generation tools has made weaponization against children faster and cheaper.