AI-Driven Exploitation of British Children by Criminal Gangs

• •Criminal gangs are leveraging AI to groom and exploit British children.
• •In 2025, over 7,000 children were identified as potential trafficking victims, a 17% increase.
• •AI-generated profiles complicate the identification of real threats, making children more vulnerable.

Criminal gangs in the UK are increasingly using artificial intelligence to exploit children, according to the UK's anti-slavery commissioner, Eleanor Lyons. AI-generated profiles are being utilized to groom and recruit children for drug trafficking and money laundering, making it difficult for authorities to identify these threats. In 2025, 7,045 children were referred as potential victims of trafficking, marking a 17% increase from the previous year, with over 60% being British nationals. The use of AI has allowed criminals to create fake online personas that can build trust with children, leading to severe risks including sextortion and coercion into violent acts. Children from stable backgrounds, often unknown to social services, are particularly targeted, as they are less likely to be monitored by authorities. The Internet Watch Foundation has reported a surge in sextortion cases among under-18s, with AI-generated content being used to blackmail victims.