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AI-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse: A Scoping Review Protocol
Chad Lance Hemady, Sara Valdebenito, Chanel Hayre, Franziska Meinck, Deborah Ann Fry ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This is a protocol for a scoping review that will map research on how artificial intelligence systems are being used to facilitate child sexual exploitation and abuse. The review will examine threats from AI technologies, how these threats are defined in the literature, and what interventions and policies exist to protect children. The authors note that current research uses inconsistent terminology and definitions, making it difficult to compare studies and monitor trends. The review will search major academic databases and grey literature from 2010 onwards, focusing on the UK context.
Key points
- AI capabilities like high-fidelity content generation and automated interaction may enable new or intensified forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse
- Existing literature on AI-facilitated CSEA uses overlapping terms and variable operational definitions that limit comparability
- The review will examine threats, definitions, and UK-relevant interventions, policies, safeguarding practices, and regulatory responses
- Search will include Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and grey literature from UK government and international NGO databases
- Review covers online, hybrid, and technology-mediated environments from 2010 to present
Limitations
This is a protocol document, not a completed review, so it cannot yet tell us what the evidence actually shows about AI-facilitated CSEA or what interventions are effective. The final review will be limited to English-language records and UK-relevant responses.
Abstract
Objective: To map the extent, nature, and definitions of the literature on AI-facilitated child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) perpetration, including (i) threats associated with AI and emerging technologies used to facilitate CSEA, (ii) how these threats are defined and operationalised, and (iii) interventions, policies, safeguarding practices, and regulatory responses relevant to the UK context. Introduction: AI systems are increasingly embedded in children and young people’s digital lives, and capabilities such as high-fidelity content generation and scalable automated interaction may enable new or intensified forms of CSEA. However, the evidence base is conceptually and terminologically inconsistent, with overlapping terms and variable operational definitions that limit comparability and surveillance. Inclusion criteria: This review will consider literature relating to AI-facilitated CSEA perpetration. Sources addressing definitions, typologies, and UK-relevant responses will be included. Context will include online, hybrid, and technology-mediated environments, with specific extraction of UK-relevant interventions and regulatory and safeguarding responses. Methods: The key information sources to be searched include Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL,IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science, supplemented by systematic grey literature searches of UK government and international NGO databases for English-language records from 2010 to the present. Following independent dual screening of titles and abstracts, data will be extracted using a standardised charting form.