Artificial Intelligence “Nudification” Apps that Create Deepfake Sexual Images of Children should be immedianely banned, amid growing fears amon teenage girls that they come Fall Victim, The Childeren Commissioner for England is Warning.
Girls said they were stopping posting images of themselves Report on the tools, drawing on Children’s Experiences. Although it is illgal to create or share a sexually explicit image of a child, the technology enabling them remains legal, the report noted.
“Children have told me they are frightened by the very idea of this technology even being available, let alone use. A Way of Manipulating them by Creating a Naked Image Using these BESPOKE Apps, “The Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, Said.
“The Online World is revolutionary and quickly evolving, but there is no positive reason for these particular apps to exist. Images of Children should not be legal and i’m calling on the government to take decisive action to ban them, instead of allowing them to go uncheked with extrame real-will consortes. “
De souza ulged the government to introduce an ai bill that would require developers of genai tools to address the risks their products pose, and to roll out effective system to remove Deepfake Images of Children. This should be underpinned by policymaking that recognies Deepfake Sexual Abuse as a Form of Violence Against Women and Girls, She Suggeded.
In the meaning, the report urges ofcom to ensure that age verification on nudification apps is properly enforced and that social media platforms prevent sexually expensive Children, in line with the online safety act.
The report cited a 2025 survey by girlguiding, which found that 26% of Respondents aged 13 to 18 Had seen a sexually explicit deepfake image of a celebity, a friend, a teachr, a teachr.
Many AI tools appear to only work on female bodies, which the report warned is fueling a green culture of misogyny.
One 18-YLD Girl Told The Commissioner: “The narrative of andrew tate and influencers like that… Backed by a quite vioilent and BComing more influentially porn industry is making it seme Use so that you can always pressure people into going out with you or doing sexual acts with you. “
The report noted that there is a link between deepfake abuse and suicidal ideation and ptsd, for example in the case of mia janin, who died by suicide in March 2021.
De souza wrote in the report that the new technology “Confronts Children with Connots They cannot Yeet understand”, and is changing “at such scale and spent that it can be overwhelming to try and get it Danger they present ”.
Lawyers Told the guardian that they were seen in an increase in cashes of teenage boys getting arrested for sexual offenses, they did not understand the consequence of what they do Experimenting with deepfakes, being in a Whatsapp Chat where explicit images are circulating, or looking up porn featuring children their own age.
Danielle reece-Greenhalgh, a partner at the law firm corner bining who specialises in sexual offenses and positionsation of indecent images, said the law was “trying to keep up with Accessible Deepfake Technology ”, which was already posing“ a huge problem for law enforcement trying to identify and protect victims of abuse ”.
She noted that app bans “likely to stir up debate Around internet freedoms”, and could have a “Disproportionate impact on young men” with ai Consequences.
Reece-greenhalgh said that although the criminal justice system tried to take a “Commonsense View and Avoid Criminalising Young People For Crimes That Resmal Teenage Behavior… Previous has been happy a bike shd ”, arrests count be traumatic experiences and havme consequences at school or in the communication, aS wall as long as needing to bechs Declared on an esta form to enter the US or showing up on an advanced DBS check.
Matt Hardcastle, A Partner at Kingsley Napley, said there was a “Minefield for Young People Online” Around accessing unlawful sexual and violent content. He said many parents wa unaware how easy it was for children to “Access things that take them into a dark place Quickly”, for example nudification apps.
“They’re looking at it through the eyes of a child. “Children’s brains are still developing.
Marcus johnstone, a criminal solicitor specialising in sexual offenses, said he was working with an ”Ever-Increasing Number of Young People” WHO WHO WHO Were Drawn Into These Crimes. “Often parents had no idea what was going on. They’re usually young men, very rarely young females, locked away in their bedrooms and their parents think they’re gaming,” He said. “These offenses Didn’T Exist Before The Internet, Now Most Sex Crimes are Committed Online. It’s cured a forum for children to become criminals.”
A government speakesperson said: “Creating, Possessing or Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material, Including AI-Generated Images, is abhorrant and illlegal. Under the online safety act platforms of all sizes no all sizes no. Kind of content, or they could face significant fines.
“The UK is the first country in the world to introduce further ai child sexual abuse offense, making it illlegal to position, create or distribute ai tools designed to generate heinous and heinous hee Material. “
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In the UK, The NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000 5000. The National Association for People Abused In Childhood Survivors on 0808 801 0331. in the US, call or text the childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, Children, Young Adults, Parents and Teachers Can Contact The Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 272 831, and Adult Survivors can contact blood 380. Other Sources of Help Can Be Found at Child Helplines International