Türkiye urges global cooperation to combat AI-fueled child exploitation

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is making it more difficult to fight child sexual abuse, according to Professor Murat Okcu. Speaking before the Parliamentary Children’s Rights Commission, he warned that AI is increasingly being used to exploit children online. He also highlighted alarming statistics: 300 million children worldwide were victims of online sexual abuse in the past year.

According to a report by Hurriyet from Professor Murat Okcu, a faculty member at Isparta Suleyman Demirel University, who shared his concerns with the Parliamentary Children’s Rights Sub-Commission, there are dangers presented by AI in digital platforms. Okcu noted that the misuse of AI to exploit children is one of the most immediate and serious threats.

“In its early stages, AI is being used for harmful purposes. This technology is not only being employed for good reasons. AI makes it easier for criminals to extort money from children and their families, even by mimicking the voices of their relatives,” he said.

300M victims of online abuse

Citing research by the WeProtect Global Alliance, Prof. Okcu revealed that around 300 million children are subjected to online sexual abuse each year. The internet and AI have created an environment where threats to children are growing more sophisticated. According to the World Bank Group, approximately 3 billion people visit generative AI platforms each month, meaning 40% of the world’s population is exposed to AI technologies regularly.

“The internet has intensified attacks on children, and now AI is exacerbating the issue,” Okcu stated.

Child exploitation: Dark side of technology

The use of AI in child abuse has made it easier for offenders to share information and guide one another, Prof. Okcu added. The most severe form of abuse, known as Category A, has seen a significant rise. He warned that AI enables children to create explicit images of their peers by manipulating ordinary photos, which is a growing problem.

“Criminals are making the most of technology. One website attracts 17 million visitors each month. Schoolchildren are using AI to create naked images of their friends from normal photos,” he explained.

Rising reports of online sexual abuse

Prof. Okcu also pointed to a worrying increase in urgent reports of online child sexual abuse. In 2023, the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 36.2 million reports of online child sexual abuse, marking a 12% rise from the previous year. Of these reports, 35.9 million were related to child pornography, while 186,000 involved online grooming for sexual acts—a figure that has increased by 300% over the past year due to the rapid growth of AI technologies.

“Reports have risen by 20% over the last three years, but urgent notifications have surged by 140%,” Prof. Okcu said.

Prof. Okcu emphasized the importance of establishing boundaries in the digital world. “Just as we cannot leave adults with unlimited freedom, we cannot do the same for children. We need regulation, not bans,” he stated.

The surge in online abuse, fueled by AI, calls for urgent action to protect children on digital platforms.