MEDIA STATEMENT
16 June 2026
The emergence of artificial intelligence-generated child abuse material is one of the most disturbing and rapidly evolving threats facing our most vulnerable.
Recent warnings that innocent school photos posted online could be harvested and manipulated into child sexual abuse material should alarm every parent, teacher and policymaker in the country.
What was once the realm of science fiction is now a very real threat. Criminals can use increasingly sophisticated AI tools to create exploitative and abusive content from ordinary photographs of children sourced from social media and publicly accessible websites. Reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have increased dramatically in recent years, highlighting the scale and urgency of the challenge.
According to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, Australian authorities received more than 82,000 reports of online child sexual exploitation last year alone, equivalent to more than 226 reports every single day.
Protecting children must always come before protecting the sensitivities of technology companies.
While schools should review their online image policies in light of these emerging risks, the responsibility cannot rest solely with principals, teachers and parents. The real challenge lies with governments and technology companies keeping pace with a threat that is evolving faster than our laws.
I believe that law enforcement agencies should have access to the best available technology to identify offenders, rescue victims and prevent exploitation before it occurs.
That includes examining advanced facial recognition and image-matching technologies, similar to those used overseas, which can help investigators identify offenders, locate victims and disrupt criminal networks. Earlier this year, I raised in Parliament the need to properly consider technologies such as “Clearview AI” and other emerging tools that can assist law enforcement investigations.
The technology exists today. The question is whether governments have the courage to ensure that victim’s rights are prioritised over child sex offenders.
We need stronger laws that place clear obligations on AI developers and technology platforms to detect, prevent and remove AI-generated child abuse material. Companies that build these systems cannot be allowed to wash their hands of the consequences.
This is not a future problem. It is happening now. And young lives are being irreparably damaged and even lost to this scourge.
The Coalition has consistently supported stronger measures to combat online child exploitation and will continue pushing for practical solutions that put child safety first.
Every image of a child that is manipulated, exploited or weaponised by predators represents a failure of the system to keep them safe.
We owe it to Australian families to ensure our laws, our technology and our law enforcement capabilities are keeping pace with the threat.
When it comes to protecting children, governments should be using every lawful tool available. Only a Coalition Government will back our police and security agencies, strengthen our laws and restore safety to the Australian community.
[ENDS]
Media Contact: Brendan West – 0402 556 646 – Brendan.west@aph.gov.au
