New Guidance for Parents and Carers on AI and Child Sexual Abuse Material

Artificial intelligence, often known as AI, is becoming part of everyday life. While AI can be helpful, it can also be misused to create, alter or share harmful images and videos of children.

CEOP Education, in partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation, has published new guidance for parents and carers on AI generated child sexual abuse material. The guidance helps families understand how AI can be misused, why this matters, and what to do if an incident happens.

The guidance supports parents and carers to:

• Understand how AI works and how it can be used to create or manipulate images
• Recognise what child sexual abuse material can include, including AI generated and edited content
• Take practical steps to reduce risk, such as reviewing privacy settings and thinking carefully about image sharing
• Talk to children and young people about AI, online safety and consent when sharing images

This can feel like a worrying topic, but the guidance is practical and supportive. It encourages parents and carers to have calm, age-appropriate conversations with children and young people about how images can be used online, what consent means, and who they can speak to if something makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

If a child tells you that an image has been created, changed or shared, parents and carers should reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking out, avoid blaming them, and not ask to see the image. The guidance also advises keeping any evidence, such as messages or profile details, and reporting concerns to the police. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Parents and carers can read the full guidance here: AI generated child sexual abuse material: Guidance for parents and carers

Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committee encourages families, schools and partner organisations to share this guidance so that parents and carers feel more confident in recognising online risks and supporting children and young people to stay safer online.

Remember the Safer Schools App

All Aberdeenshire schools have signed up to the Safer Schools App, which gives schools, parents, carers and pupils access to online safety advice, safeguarding updates and practical resources. The app helps families keep up to date with changing online risks, including issues linked to social media, gaming and digital wellbeing.  Ask your child’s school for the code to gain access.