In a two-week operation at Europol headquarters, investigators identified 51 children who had been sexually abused, highlighting both the scale of online exploitation and the critical role of international collaboration. The mission, however, also underscored a troubling reality: the rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, which is compounding the difficulty of an already urgent global fight.
A Global Effort to Rescue the Unseen
At Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, 27 experts from INTERPOL and law enforcement agencies in 22 countries came together for the 17th edition of the Victim Identification Task Force (VIDTF). Over the course of two weeks in September 2025, the team analysed more than 300 datasets depicting child sexual exploitation. The review revealed victims across age groups—from toddlers to teenagers and of diverse ethnic and national backgrounds.
The coordinated effort resulted in the identification of 51 abused children. Europol has since sent 213 leads to national authorities for further investigation. “Child sexual abuse material may be created in a single room, yet spread instantly across the world,” said Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle. “Too often, we stand outside that door, knowing what happened inside, yet lacking the key to rescue the child.”
The Expanding Threat: AI and Sophisticated Tools
The Europol database, first established in 2006, now holds more than 111 million unique photos and videos of abuse, with numbers rising exponentially. The growth of mobile phones has accelerated both production and distribution, while artificial intelligence is enabling offenders to generate hyper-realistic, AI-produced material.
Investigators warn that perpetrators now share tutorials on dark web forums detailing how to create convincing synthetic imagery. This new wave of technology poses unprecedented challenges for law enforcement, requiring advanced digital forensics and more resources. “Cybersecurity faces an unprecedented challenge that requires a proactive and coordinated response,” Europol said in a recent statement.
Collective Action and Past Successes
Since its inception in 2014, the VIDTF has safeguarded over 1,000 victims, arrested more than 300 offenders, and analysed 8,005 datasets. One notable case from 2024 illustrates the task force’s reach: a video of a five-year-old child being abused was traced across Europol’s databases to France, where local specialists launched an investigation. The child and two additional victims, including an infant, were rescued, and five men were arrested.
To expand public participation, Europol runs the “Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object” platform, inviting citizens to help identify everyday objects visible in abuse images. Even the smallest clue—such as a household item or brand logo—can lead to the rescue of a child.
Note on Terminology
Europol urges the media to use the term child sexual abuse material (CSAM), not “child pornography.” The latter implies consent or legitimacy, obscuring the reality that each image or video documents the suffering of an actual child.
