The National Crime Agency estimates there to be between 550,000 and 850,000 people in the UK who pose varying forms of sexual risk to children.
IWF analyst 'Lucy' spoke to the BBC about her work tracking down and fighting against online child sexual abuse.
Isobel has been working throughout lockdown. With her colleagues in the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) analyst room in Cambridge she has been responding to a rising number of tipoffs from the public that child abuse images are circulating online. The work is gruelling.
New IWF data reveals a startling increase in ‘self-generated’ material where children have been tricked or groomed by predators.
Record levels of dangerous AI‑generated child sexual abuse imagery were found by the IWF in 2025, with a dramatic rise in severe content. New polling shows 82% of UK adults want government action to ensure AI systems are safe by design.
IWF analysts have worked through the coronavirus lockdown to make sure children are kept safe.
Reports involving sexual extortion are on the rise as criminals become more ‘adept’ at targeting younger children.
IWF analysts say ‘insidious’ commercial child sexual abuse sites are driving more and more extreme content online.