Frequently Asked Questions

Using artificial intelligence (AI), perpetrators can create sexual images of children without a child needing to be physically present. They often take ordinary photos from social media and manipulate them using software (such as Undress AI) to make the child appear naked. Additionally, perpetrators can generate completely new, lifelike child sexual abuse material using a simple text command (a prompt).

Although these images are technically ‘fake’, the consequences and the harm to the child are real. Perpetrators use these AI-generated images to blackmail children (sextortion). Children are forced to send more and more sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves. The blackmail never stops on its own, and the fear that the images will be posted online – and remain there permanently – is immense.

The scale is enormous, and it is growing at an alarming rate, having increased by more than 300% over the past three years. This is partly due to how easily accessible AI tools have become for perpetrators.

One in two young people aged 12 to 25 in the Netherlands experiences online sexual abuse or online sexual harassment. Every minute, more than three children are exploited online globally. Behind every statistic is a child trapped in a web of digital manipulation and blackmail.

No, this thought is a dangerous misconception. First, the material is frequently based on existing photos (such as a class photo or an Instagram selfie) of real children. The psychological damage and the violation of their privacy are entirely real. Furthermore, images on the internet almost never disappear.

Secondly, research shows that the mass availability of this material normalizes sexual violence against children. Viewing and generating it lowers the moral threshold for perpetrators, dangerously accelerating the step toward physical child abuse.

The danger of asking ‘is it not less severe?’ is exactly this: it creates a comfort zone for behaviour that puts children at risk. That zone does not exist.

Yes. In the Netherlands, possessing, creating, and distributing child sexual abuse material is a criminal offense, even when the images are entirely AI-generated. Courts are also increasingly taking action against technologies that facilitate abuse. For example, the Amsterdam District Court recently ordered the removal of Grok’s so-called “undressing feature” following legal action by Offlimits.

However, legislation and enforcement struggle to keep pace with technological developments. New AI tools appear faster than authorities can regulate or remove them, and law enforcement agencies are often overwhelmed by the scale of the problem.

That is why stronger European legislation is urgently needed. Because the Netherlands is a major international hosting hub, national measures alone are not enough. Terre des Hommes works together with partner organizations across Europe to push for stricter regulations, greater accountability for technology companies, and stronger enforcement. We are a member of ECLAG, a coalition of more than 80 organisations advocating for better protection of children online.

We completely understand that concern. However, experience shows that staying silent about this topic actually increases the risks. What we do not know or do not understand becomes invisible, making it even more dangerous. Terre des Hommes wants to encourage open discussion about this topic, because openness is the most vital foundation for children’s safety.

After all, if you don’t know what children might encounter online, you cannot protect them from it. This campaign responsibly demonstrates how digital mechanisms work, without explicitly showing or romanticizing abuse. The goal is not to spread fear, but to give parents, educators, and professionals the knowledge required to start a conversation with children.

When children notice that these types of topics can be discussed openly at home or at school, they feel safer to report it if something bad happens online. Unfortunately, silence always works to the advantage of online anonymity. By breaking the silence, we hope to work together to create a safer online world for every child.

Yes, and that is a difficult reality we must face. Research from The Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children shows that the suspects are increasingly younger: as many as 23% of suspects of child sexual violence known to the Public Prosecution Service are minors themselves. This means nearly a quarter are still children. Furthermore, the vast majority (over 95%) are male – a boy like the one we see in the commercial, who, it should be noted, is played by an adult actor.

The setting in the commercial – an ordinary boy’s bedroom, an ordinary family – is therefore painfully realistic. This does not happen in dark backrooms, but in bedrooms that look exactly like those of your own child or grandchild. Due to the normalization of sexually explicit images online and the accessibility of anonymous AI tools, the threshold for online experimentation has become very low. However, because of today’s technology, the consequences are far more severe, and images continue to circulate online indefinitely.

Another factor is that moral boundaries can blur quickly online. Due to the massive volume of extreme networks and images on the internet, minors often do not fully realize where the line is drawn. Because something more extreme can always be found online, their own boundary-crossing behaviour can begin to seem ‘relatively normal’ in their eyes. More research is needed to better understand why this is increasing. Only by opening up this conversation can we raise awareness among parents and minors, offer young people the right support, and better protect children.

Yes. Perpetrators do not need explicit images; any innocent photo posted online (a selfie, a holiday photo, or a school photo) can serve as input for AI manipulation.

Our advice: Only share photos of your children or grandchildren in private groups with people you know and trust personally, and always set children’s accounts to private. If something goes wrong, it is never the child’s fault.

Set social media accounts to private. Talk openly with your child about what they share and with whom. Point your child toward Offlimits as a safe, anonymous reporting platform if something goes wrong online, accessible via hulplijn.offlimits.nl or +31 20 261 52 75. Offlimits provides help to children, young people, and adults – including if you are worried about someone else’s behaviour. Make it absolutely clear to your child: if something goes wrong, it is never their fault.

Do not carry this burden alone. Contact the Dutch Police immediately.

If you are in the Netherlands:

• Local police: 0900-8844
• Report Crime Anonymously: 0800-7000
• Fill in the police’s contact form so they can contact you.

If you are abroad:

• Call +31 343 57 8844

For free, safe, and – if desired – anonymous help and advice, you can contact Offlimits (Dutch expertise centre for online sexual abuse).

• Phone: 020 261 52 75
• Chat & Website: hulplijn.offlimits.nl
• Important tip: Do not delete any chat messages or images yet; these are crucial pieces of evidence for the police.

For medical, psychological, and forensic assistance after sexual violence, you can reach out to the Centrum Seksueel Geweld (Dutch sexual violence centre):

• Phone: 0800-0188 (Available 24/7, free of charge)
• Chat & Website: centrumseksueelgeweld.nl
• Availability: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

We operate on three fronts: we build resilience in children and parents through education and by providing tools, we support victims via local partner organizations worldwide, and we exert political pressure on governments for better legislation and enforcement. We are actively lobbying for stricter regulations in both the Netherlands and the European Union.

Terre des Hommes protects children from exploitation, and that problem is rapidly shifting into the digital world. Online sexual abuse knows no borders, and the Netherlands unfortunately is at the absolute epicentre of this global issue:

• Perpetrators and victims live here too: It affects Dutch children as well. In the Netherlands, a very large number of children own a smartphone and have internet access.
• The Netherlands is a digital hosting hub: Due to our fast and highly developed internet infrastructure, criminal networks worldwide rent server space en masse from Dutch hosting providers. Infamous, illegal platforms (such as the recently targeted site Motherless) turned out to be running on Dutch servers for years. As a result, we inadvertently export digital child abuse.