AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Introduction 

• In the digital age, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing at an unprecedented rate, bringing about numerous innovations and opportunities. However, it also raises alarming risks, particularly in the realm of child exploitation. 
• One of the most disturbing developments is the creation, dissemination, and possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) through AI tools.
•  The International AI Safety Report 2025, released by the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, highlights the imminent risks posed by AI-generated CSAM.
•  This issue is not only a global threat but also an urgent concern for India, where cybercrimes against children are increasingly prevalent.

What is Digital Child Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)?

• • Digital child abuse refers to a variety of online threats, including cyberbullying, grooming, trafficking, and the proliferation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). AI-generated CSAM is a disturbing new development in which AI tools are used to create explicit images of children who do not exist, further complicating the fight against online child exploitation.

• CSAM Defined: CSAM is any material that depicts sexual exploitation or abuse of minors. With AI-generated CSAM, the content may involve non-existent children, but still portrays explicit abuse, which can fuel real-world abuse and exploitation. While no real child is directly harmed in the creation of such material, it serves to normalize harmful behavior, putting real children at risk of grooming and abuse.

How Alarming is the Situation?

• Key Statistics and Reports:

• • Cyber Tipline 2022 reported 32 million cases of CSAM, with 5.6 million originating from India.
  • WeProtect Global Alliance 2023 reported an 87% increase in online child exploitation cases since 2019.
  • The International AI Safety Report 2025 flagged AI-generated CSAM as an imminent threat, requiring urgent action from governments worldwide.
  • In India, cybercrimes against children have increased significantly, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022.
• These figures highlight a growing and troubling global trend that demands immediate government intervention and legislative reforms.

Which Platforms Lead to Child Exploitation? 

• Gaming Platforms: Metaverse, Grand Theft Auto, Roblox
• Messaging Apps: WhatsApp, Telegram (with end-to-end encryption)
• Dark Web: Illicit online marketplaces facilitating the distribution of CSAM.
• Social Media: Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Discord, X (formerly Twitter)

These platforms provide a faceless, anonymous environment for criminals to exploit children, making it difficult for authorities to track and curb the spread of harmful content.

What are AI-Based Exploitation Risks? 

• • AI-generated CSAM presents significant risks to children’s rights, mental health, national security, and global commitments to child protection. Here are key reasons why addressing this issue is crucial:

• Prevention of Secondary Victimization: AI-generated CSAM may not involve actual children, but it normalizes harmful behaviors, leading to secondary victimization. By perpetuating abusive imagery and dangerous content, it fosters an environment where real-life abuse becomes more acceptable and prevalent.

• Protecting Children’s Rights: CSAM is a grave violation of a child’s right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. It is also a direct violation of child protection laws, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The proliferation of AI-generated CSAM undermines these fundamental rights, necessitating urgent legal and policy interventions.

• Mental and Emotional Well-Being: Exposure to CSAM, including AI-generated content, causes long-lasting psychological harm to children. According to the UNICEF 2023 report, children exposed to such material often suffer from trauma, depression, and behavioral issues. Furthermore, AI-generated CSAM is often used as a grooming tool, increasing the likelihood of real abuse.

• Global Commitments: India, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), is obligated to take proactive measures to combat online child exploitation. Tackling AI-generated CSAM is part of this commitment to uphold children’s rights and global child protection standards.

• Global Precedents: Countries like the United Kingdom and the European Union have already taken steps to address AI-generated CSAM:

• • • UK 2025 Law: This law criminalizes AI tools used to generate CSAM, moving from an “act-centric” to a “tool-centric” approach.
    • EU Digital Services Act (DSA): This legislation mandates proactive removal of CSAM by tech platforms, requiring stringent monitoring and regulations. 

• Upholding National Security and Law & Order: The spread of CSAM, including AI-generated content, poses a serious threat to national security. According to the Internet Watch Foundation (2024), the proliferation of CSAM on the open web makes it difficult to protect both children and cybersecurity. Additionally, this content can be used to blackmail or coerce individuals, contributing to the overall instability of the digital environment.

What are Government Initiatives to Curtail Digital Child Abuse? 

• • The Indian government has initiated several legal reforms, institutional measures, and awareness campaigns to combat digital child abuse and AI-generated CSAM.

• Institutional Measures: 

• • • India, with over 700 million internet users, faces an increasing number of cybercrimes against children.
    • The NCRP Portal (Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children – CCPWC) reported 1.94 lakh child pornography cases by April 2024.
    • The NCRB-NCMEC Partnership (USA, 2019) has shared 69.05 lakh cyber tip-line reports for CSAM.
    • The NHRC Guidelines 2024 suggest expanding the CSAM definitions and enhancing regulatory mechanisms to address new digital threats.

• Awareness and Capacity Building: 

• • • Interpol’s Crimes Against Children Initiative: India’s partnership to track online child exploitation.
    • Cyber Swachhta Kendra: A government initiative aimed at improving cyber hygiene and raising awareness of online child safety.

• Legal Frameworks: 

• • Section 67B, IT Act 2000: This provision punishes the transmission of CSAM through digital platforms.
  • POCSO Act, 2012 (Sections 13, 14, 15): Prohibits child pornography and ensures stringent protection for children against sexual offenses.
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2024: Criminalizes the sale and distribution of obscene material to children.
  • Digital India Act 2023 (Proposed): Aims to regulate AI-generated CSAM, ensuring tech companies are held accountable for content moderation.

What are the Challenges in Combating AI-Driven CSAM?

• • Despite various government initiatives, several challenges hinder the effective combat of AI-driven CSAM and digital child exploitation.

• Legal and Legislative Gaps: Indian laws primarily focus on the “who” and “what”—who committed the offense and what was done. However, they fail to address the “tools/medium” used, such as AI-generated CSAM. This gap leaves law enforcement agencies struggling to prosecute perpetrators, especially on encrypted platforms.

• Lack of Accountability from Tech Companies: Big tech companies like Meta, X, TikTok, and Snapchat have come under fire for failing to curb online child exploitation. These platforms profit from engagement metrics rather than prioritizing child safety. Congressional hearings in 2025 highlighted Big Tech’s negligence, revealing the need for stricter oversight.

• Technological Advancements and AI Exploitation: AI technologies like deepfakes and child-targeted content recommendation algorithms have introduced new risks. Metaverse and virtual reality platforms also enable immersive and harmful forms of child exploitation. The dark web and end-to-end encrypted apps further exacerbate these issues by providing a shield for perpetrators.

• Inadequate Public Awareness and Digital Literacy: A major gap in combating CSAM is the lack of cyber safety education for children, parents, and educators. Children are often unaware of the risks associated with sharing sensitive data online, fueling predatory activities. Schools and parents must play a critical role in raising awareness and promoting digital literacy.

• Enforcement Issues: Delayed investigations and low conviction rates (only 30% of NCRB-reported cases result in convictions) are major concerns. Encrypted platforms, like Telegram and Tor, complicate enforcement efforts, with around 70% of CSAM being shared on such platforms.

• Jurisdictional Challenges: CSAM is often hosted on foreign servers, making it difficult for Indian authorities to take immediate legal action. Cross-border cooperation and clearer jurisdictional guidelines are crucial to tackle this issue effectively.

What Should Be the Way Forward?

• • The fight against AI-driven CSAM requires multifaceted strategies, including legal reforms, holding tech companies accountable, and enhancing public awareness.

• Holding Tech Companies Accountable: 

• • • Implement “safety by design” frameworks across social media and gaming platforms.
    • Enforce strict content moderation policies and AI-based CSAM detection mechanisms.
    • Adopt global best practices like the UK’s upcoming AI-Child Abuse Law to hold tech giants accountable for online child exploitation.

• Global Collaboration and Cross-Border Data Sharing: 

• • • Strengthen India’s engagement with the Interpol’s Crimes Against Children Initiative to enhance global collaboration.
    • Establish a South Asian Cybercrime Cooperation Framework to facilitate intelligence sharing and improve coordination in tackling CSAM.

• AI-Powered Monitoring & Law Enforcement Capacity Building: 

• • • Develop a National AI-Driven CSAM Detection Unit equipped with advanced technologies to detect and mitigate CSAM.
    • Set up Interpol-assisted cyber forensic labs in major cities to aid in real-time CSAM detection and enforcement.
    • Collaborate with social media giants to enhance automated CSAM detection and streamline investigations.

• Legal and Policy Reforms: 

• • • Amend the POCSO Act: Replace the term ‘child pornography’ with “CSAM” to align with current threats and technological developments (as recommended by the NHRC Advisory 2023).
    • Redefine “sexually explicit content” in Section 67B of the IT Act to allow for real-time blocking of CSAM.
    • Expand the definition of “intermediary” to include VPNs, Virtual Private Servers (VPS), and Cloud Services, ensuring they are accountable for the content they host.
    • Adopt the UN Draft Convention on Countering ICT for Criminal Purposes to strengthen international cooperation against digital exploitation.
    • Integrate UK’s model law on criminalizing AI tools for CSAM into the Digital India Act.

• Enhancing Public Awareness and Digital Literacy: 

• • Launch school-level digital safety programs integrated into civic education to teach children about online risks and privacy protection.
  • Introduce a National AI Ethics and Child Safety Policy to ensure ethical AI usage and prioritize child safety.