IWF counts 6,310 AI abuse images in H1

The Internet Watch Foundation assessed 6,310 AI-generated still images meeting the legal definition of child sexual abuse in the first half of 2026—40% more than its full-year 2025 total of 4,512, according to its new figures. The Guardian’s report confirms the count covers still images and says IWF is urging binding EU rules for safer models. For image-model builders, the archive’s account of app-store enforcement over generated sexual deepfakes is a reminder that abuse reporting and moderation become deployment requirements when regulators and distributors demand evidence.