Distinct Trauma Patterns Among Victims of AI-Generated CSAM

Determine whether AI-generated child sexual abuse material is associated with distinct patterns of trauma among victims who are aware of their victimization, as compared to the trauma patterns documented for victims of the dissemination of camera-taken child sexual abuse material.

Background

The paper discusses how AI tools are used to create explicit images that depict real children, including known victims and minors whose images are innocently shared online, thereby causing revictimization and psychological harm. Professional organizations and surveys indicate that even fully synthetic depictions can trigger humiliation, violation, anxiety, and loss of control among those depicted.

Within this context, the authors note that established harms of CSAM dissemination are expected to persist when AI is used to multiply or alter abusive material. However, they explicitly state that it remains unclear whether AI-generated child sexual abuse material produces trauma profiles that are qualitatively distinct for victims who are aware of their victimization, highlighting a concrete, unresolved question about the psychological impact of AI-generated versus camera-taken CSAM.