AI-generated sexual abuse and exploitation is growing. 3,440 AI-generated videos of child sexual abuse were found in 2025, compared to just 13 in 2024.*
Close to Home is a new film from The Survivors Trust that highlights the growing threat of AI-generated child sexual abuse images and the devastating impact it can have on young people and their families.
At the heart of the film is Maisy, a 13-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down when sexually explicit AI-images of her are created and shared online. What begins online, quickly creates opportunities for further exploitation in her school.
We want to show: Online harm can lead to real-world grooming, coercion and abuse.
Because child sexual abuse and exploitation isn’t something that happens somewhere else.
It can happen close to home.
The reality behind Maisy and her family
- 89% increase in online grooming crimes over the last six years,
- 7,000 recorded offences of sexual communication in the last year,
- The youngest known victim of online grooming in 2023/24 was a 5-year old boy.*
The National Crime Agency has warned that offenders are increasingly exploiting AI technologies to target children in new ways.
We must connect the dots
‘The message of Close to Home is simple: child sexual abuse isn’t something that happens somewhere else. It can affect any child, in any family, regardless of income or postcode’, says Lucy Duckworth, National Policy Lead at The Survivors Trust.
‘Technology evolves and with it the methods offenders use to target and exploit children. We cannot treat online, AI-generated and contact abuse as separate issues when offenders don’t. We need child protection systems that are one step ahead. A strong Child Protection Authority must be equipped to understand the threats, connect the dots between online and offline harm, and act early to better protect children.’
For years, we campaigned as #ACTonIICSA for stronger child protection systems and laws that can effectively protect children.
The new Child Protection Authority is an essential step in the right direction. We are working closely alongside the CPA establishment team to ensure the new CPA is equipped to respond to rapidly evolving threats including AI-generated child sexual abuse material, online grooming and technology-facilitated exploitation.
Your Call to Action: Start the conversation
Offenders thrive in silence. But when we start talking openly about online harms, grooming and child sexual abuse, we can together create a safer society for all children.
Change starts when you talk about a subject. 500,000 children are sexually abused every single year. And that’s a conservative estimate.
- Watch the film.
- Start one conversation with someone you know.
- Send the video to someone you know.
The Internet Watch Foundation and the National Crime Agency published new guidance for parents and carers you might find helpful. If you need support or want to talk to someone, you can call our helpline.
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We want to say a huge thank you to Media Trust and Crucible Foundation for making this film possible; to Executive Producer Evie Wright, and from Sticker Studios Director Tash Tung, Executive Producer Sam Page-Jones, Production Manager Ella Oulton, Producer John Mouratis and their team, as well as the cast. Thank you for being part of this campaign.
