Whilst the internet is largely a positive and useful space, you may come across harmful content online, such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and be unsure what to do.
It is important to understand what steps to take and that we all have a duty to report CSA, to enable law enforcement and partners to tackle this crime and protect children.
What do we mean by child sexual abuse material?
CSAM refers to any content that shows indecent images or sexual acts involving under 18-year olds.
- Indecent images of children means an image of someone under 18 years old that may include: nude or semi-nude sexual posing. For example, displaying genitals and/or breasts or overtly sexual images of children in underwear; nude or semi-nude whilst touching themselves in a sexual way; hurting someone else sexually; sexual acts.
- Sexual acts include both penetrative and non-penetrative sexual activity.
CSAM includes photographs, live video or streams, pre-recorded video footage, non-photographic images such as computer-generated images and pseudo images, including those made with artificial intelligence (AI).
What should I do if I come across child sexual abuse material online?
1. Report it to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). CSAM is illegal and should immediately be reported to the IWF. The IWF are a not-for-profit organisation that work to remove CSAM from online spaces, in partnership with online industry and law enforcement. You can report to the IWF anonymously and will only require the URL (web address) of where the content is held.
2. Report it to the app or site. Most apps and sites have rules they must follow about the type of content allowed, as well as a duty to uphold the law. Content that breaches these rules or the law should always be reported. Childnet provide guidance on how to report to the most common sites.
3. Don’t share it. Delete it. You may be unsure whether to keep or share the CSAM as evidence. Sharing CSAM is illegal and you will not need to keep it as evidence for a report. Make a note of the source/URL for your report and delete the material.
Why is child sexual abuse material being circulated online?
There are a number of reasons why CSAM is circulated online, generally these can be split into two categories:
1. CSAM shared on purpose or with malicious intent. This may be offenders sharing the material with other offenders, seeking gratification from sharing the material, or to blackmail or intentionally cause distress to the child or others.
This also includes AI-CSAM which may be distributed in forums or platforms that promote exploitation.
2. CSAM shared by accident or without malicious intent. This may be those sharing to seek out the offenders, raise awareness or find help. Whilst this may be done with good intentions, this is never acceptable and is illegal; material should always be reported and deleted. It may also include material that under 18-year olds have consensually shared, for example in a relationship, that has then been shared wider.
Some content may also be circulated due to online algorithms. If content that hasn’t yet been reported and removed is widely viewed and shared, whether intentionally or not, this can come up as trending content and could be shown as suggested content to view.
Accidental sharing may also include situations where someone shares CSAM, including content generated using AI, out of curiosity or thinking it’s a ‘joke’ without understanding it depicts child sexual abuse.
Even if the intent is not malicious, CSAM is never a joke. It must always be treated as a crime and safeguarding concern. Responses should include appropriate safeguarding measures and ensure that education and support are provided to prevent further harm.
If CSAM is encountered or shared, whether intentionally or not, it must always be reported. You should follow the same steps outlined above: report it to the IWF and to the app or site where it was found. Do share it any further. Sharing this content is illegal and can cause further harm to the victim, especially if the content has already begun to trend or circulate.
What should I do if I come across child sexual abuse material at work?
Adults should not view CSAM.
If you find CSAM on a work device, do not make any changes to the device or its contents. Contact your local police force, and wherever feasible, store the device in a secure location. Local police contact information can be found at https://www.police.uk/pu/contact-us/ or by calling 101.
If you are the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or equivalent, you should lead the response to any incidents involving CSAM. Ensure that appropriate safeguarding procedures are followed, regardless of how the content was encountered or shared.
If you have unavoidably viewed CSAM because a parent or child has shown it to you, speak to your DSL (or equivalent) about what has happened and seek any support you need.
DSLs and senior leadership teams can find information about responding to these incidents and safeguarding young people in the Sharing nudes and semi-nudes UKCIS guidance.
Looking after yourself
Coming across CSAM can be distressing. Once you have reported the content, it’s important to consider steps to support your own wellbeing. This will look different for everyone, but speaking to someone can often help. You may wish to speak to a workplace wellbeing lead, clinical supervisor, or contact a confidential support service such as the NSPCC helpline or Samaritans.
You may also find it helpful to know what has happened as a result of your report. If this is the case you will need to provide your contact email address when submitting a report to IWF, they will then be able to inform you at a later date what happened to your report.
More information
You may find it useful to read CEOP Education and the IWF’s guidance on ‘Child sexual abuse generated by artificial intelligence’. It explains how AI tools can be used to create CSAM, answers common questions and provides advice on how to respond to incidents, including safeguarding and legal considerations.