OCCIT: The Evolving Use of AI Technology in CSEA Offending

The second day began with Mike from the UK's Online CSEA Covert Intelligence Team (OCCIT) delivering a powerful session on AI’s evolving role in CSEA offending. Drawing on real cases, he highlighted the alarming ease with which offenders exploit AI-generated imagery.

Mike explained how tactics have shifted from collecting content to acquiring datasets and LoRAs (Low-Rank Adaptation), a method for fine-tuning AI models. Generative AI tools like Stable Diffusion are now used to create illicit content, including fully AI-generated children and depictions of real-life children.

Offenders can "order" CSAM tailored to their preferences by providing photos of a child. “We see offenders catfishing their way into children’s Instagram accounts to collect images for datasets,” Mike explained. He stressed that fully AI-generated imagery still involves harm, as models are trained on real images of children. Claims that such content lacks victims are fundamentally untrue.

Mike also raised alarms about offenders misusing chatbots, emphasising the urgent need for better moderation and safeguards. Tests showed concerning results, revealing chatbots could be manipulated into illegal behaviour. He called for immediate legislation to regulate large language models (LLMs) and chatbots to prevent abuse.

Panel Discussion: Technology and Offender Tactics

A panel discussion featuring Linda van den Oever, Public Prosecutor in the Netherlands; Robbert Hoving, President of Offlimits and INHOPE President; Tijana Popovic Policy Advisor at Child Focus Belgium; and Anna Lukowiak, Public Prosecutor in Belgium, explored national differences in detecting and removing CSAM. Key topics included the strengths of operational frameworks, cross-border learning opportunities, and enhancing collaboration between the Netherlands and Belgium.

Panellists highlighted challenges such as harmonising legislation across EU member states and innovations driving their approaches. Examples like Project AviaTor, which supports law enforcement in prioritising CSAM cases, showcased the value of collaboration. The discussion emphasised the need for unified efforts and harmonised legislation to create a coordinated response across Europe.

INTERPOL IWOL: A Global System in Action

Marko Levonen, Criminal Intelligence Officer at INTERPOL's Crimes Against Children Unit, shared insights into IWOL (Worst of List), a system tracking domains disseminating severe CSAM. By blocking access and redirecting users to a stop page, IWOL functions as a preventative tool. To date, 9441 domains have been documented, reducing access to illegal content.

Levonen delved into offenders' tactics to conceal illegal material in plain sight. Some websites appear inactive or host adult material, misleading service providers. He highlighted a sobering reality: on a single day INTERPOL encountered 1701 newly published domains all featuring images of the same three victims. In a powerful moment during his presentation, Levonen displayed anonymised photos of the victims, underscoring that these are not just pictures—they represent real children, still waiting to be identified and rescued.

He concluded by stressing the critical role of industry participation. Broader adoption of IWOL can significantly strengthen efforts to reduce illegal content and protect victims.

Interactive Sessions

Beyond expert presentations, the forum actively fostered collaboration. Day two featured another round of dynamic discussions centred on three key topics. Participants explored how they could contribute to INTERPOL’s IWOL initiative, shared experiences with AI-generated CSAM, and discussed needed resources to address these challenges. Discussions concluded with reflections on the forum’s key takeaways.

Closing and Conclusion

In her closing presentation, Grete Raidma thanked the European Commission for funding the event, along with the presenters and participants for their contributions. She expressed hope that the collaborations and insights gained would lead to meaningful progress in safeguarding children online. The forum concluded with a shared commitment to continue working towards a safer digital world for children.


We’d like to express our gratitude to the CPORT Project partners, the Belgian Federal Police, INTERPOL, and the European Commission, we also extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants and speakers whose contributions and insights made this event a success. Your dedication, expertise, and active engagement were instrumental in fostering meaningful discussions and driving progress in the fight against CSAM.


Read the first part of this article -Recap Day One