AI-generated child abuse reports surge, Govt expands online filter

There has been a sharp rise in reports linked to suspected AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

The Government is expanding New Zealand's online child exploitation filtering system to target AI-generated abuse material, after reports linked to the content surged and concerns were raised about whether existing protections were keeping pace with the technology.

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden today announced the Department of Internal Affairs has begun integrating a new block list from the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation into its Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System.

The Government's adding a new international block list following a surge in AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

The move follows reporting by 1News last year that revealed a 400% rise in AI-generated child sexual abuse material globally, with experts warning New Zealand's laws and systems risked falling behind.

The new list targets so-called non-photographic imagery, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material, cartoons, animations and other computer-generated depictions of child exploitation.

"AI-generated child abuse material is illegal under the New Zealand Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act," van Velden said.

"Expanding the filter is a practical step to disrupt access to this objectionable material and strengthen New Zealand's response to online child exploitation."

Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden (file image).

Internal Affairs already operates a filter that blocks access to websites hosting child sexual abuse material. The addition of the Internet Watch Foundation's Non-Photographic Imagery list means more websites hosting AI-generated exploitation material will now be identified and blocked.

"We wanted to make sure the technology would be seamless," van Velden said, "having tested it, they've already started to integrate it. It shows we're working fast."

The announcement comes amid a sharp rise in reports linked to suspected AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

"It's an exponential growth," van Velden said. "The department is moving to get ahead of this new technology because this type of content is disturbing and it is illegal in New Zealand."

Internal Affairs said it received 151 reports from the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) relating to suspected AI-generated child sexual abuse material during 2025.

In the first three months of 2026 alone, that figure had already climbed to 267 reports.

"That increase shows how quickly this threat is evolving," van Velden said.

"As technology changes, our response must change too."

The Internet Watch Foundation welcomed the move.

Its chief executive Kerry Smith said non-photographic depictions of child sexual abuse were not victimless crimes.

"Not only are they criminal in large parts of the world but can be a pathway that leads to contact abuse," Smith said.

"We greatly value the collaboration of the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand in confronting this toxic threat and form of child abuse head on."

Experts say the material is now spreading across mainstream social media, chat forums, and search platforms.

The development builds on efforts already underway within New Zealand's telecommunications sector.

Last year, Spark became the first New Zealand internet service provider to adopt the Internet Watch Foundation's Non-Photographic Imagery list, blocking websites containing AI-generated and other computer-created child sexual abuse material.