“Advances in technology can provide opportunities and benefits for us as a society. The resources shared by UK Safer Internet Centre for this year’s Safer Internet Day provide a much-needed route into talking about AI technologies and introducing this topic to children, parents, and carers in a positive way.

However, as with all advances in tech, there are those that will seek to exploit them and AI is no exception. We are seeing this in offenders using generative AI to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). CSAM is illegal regardless of how it is produced. Together with police colleagues we take it very seriously – it has real impact on children, young people, and especially on anyone depicted in it. It is not victimless and has a horrendous effect on those affected. We are working with OfCom and across industry partners to provide education to tackle threats to our children and young people. We have launched guidance for professionals on AI-CSAM which has been created in collaboration with the Internet Watch Foundation, and advice for young people on AI companion apps.

This Safer Internet Day help provide that balanced view and understanding of AI by using the resources available from UK SIC and NCA’s CEOP Education websites.”