UK children increasingly targeted by explicit deepfakes, new data shows

Children across the UK are reporting a sharp

Children across the UK are reporting a sharp rise in explicit deepfake images depicting them, according to an exclusive investigation. The findings highlight how advances in artificial intelligence are enabling the creation of sexualised content with alarming ease.

The Report Remove service, an anonymous online tool that helps take down intimate images, has documented a significant spike in reports involving digitally altered or entirely fabricated photos. These cases often involve AI-driven “nudification” applications that can strip clothing from ordinary pictures within seconds.

Child safety experts expressed grave concern over the trend, noting that victims are frequently unaware their images have been manipulated until they surface on social media or messaging platforms. The psychological impact can be severe, with many young people reporting feelings of violation, anxiety, and helplessness.

A spokesperson for the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)

A spokesperson for the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), the UK’s online safety watchdog, warned that the barrier to creating such content has all but disappeared. “What once required advanced editing skills can now be achieved by anyone with internet access and a basic smartphone,” they said.

The surge has prompted renewed calls for tech companies to implement stronger safeguards, including proactive detection of deepfake material and faster removal mechanisms. The government has also pledged to strengthen legislation under the Online Safety Act, though critics argue enforcement remains too slow.

For now, organisations like Report Remove continue to offer a vital lifeline, helping young victims regain control over their digital image. Yet as AI tools evolve, campaigners stress that prevention and education must follow suit, urging parents and schools to talk openly about the risks of sharing images online.

One victim, a 14-year-old girl who asked to

One victim, a 14-year-old girl who asked to remain anonymous, described the ordeal as “terrifying”. She discovered a manipulated photo of herself circulating on a school group chat, and said the experience left her feeling “powerless and exposed”. Her case is among hundreds now being reviewed by support services.

The IWF has called for a coordinated response involving law enforcement, educators, and tech firms to curb what it describes as a “growing crisis” in digital child safety. As the investigation reveals, the problem is no longer hypothetical — it is happening now, and to children across the country.