Sextortion reports rise in Australia as AI-generated child abuse imagery surges globally

Australian and UK regulators have reported rising sextortion complaints and AI-generated abuse imagery, finding persistent safety gaps on platforms and urging parents to limit children’s online exposure.

• A report by Australia’s eSafety regulator found “persistent safety gaps” in how major platforms detect and prevent online sextortion, with more than 2,000 complaints recorded from July to December 2025.
• Young men aged 18 to 24 made the most sextortion complaints to eSafety at about 800, while Instagram and WhatsApp were cited in over 1,300 complaints.
• The UK’s National Crime Agency and Internet Watch Foundation warned parents not to publicly share children’s images, citing a 14% rise in AI-generated child sexual abuse material identified by the IWF in 2025.
• eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said platforms have not done enough to prevent harm, while IWF chief Kerry Smith said threats to children from AI-generated imagery are “real.”