AI Deepfake Apps Are Fueling Image-Based Abuse Against Children in Hong Kong: 7 Key Dangers

3. Severe psychological harm to child victims

Victims of AI-generated image-based sexual abuse commonly experience humiliation, shame, anger, violation, and self-blame, leading to ongoing emotional distress, withdrawal from school and family, and difficulty maintaining trusting relationships . Some cases can lead to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The trauma is amplified each time the content is shared . Children are especially vulnerable because their cognitive abilities are still developing and they have more difficulty identifying deepfakes .

4. Rapid escalation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM)

In 2025, the Internet Watch Foundation assessed 8,029 AI-generated images and videos as showing realistic child sexual abuse, with volumes continuing to rise steadily across both dark web and mainstream commercial platforms . This imagery is being generated and distributed at scale, overwhelming existing moderation systems.

5. Hong Kong's legal gap: creation without distribution is not a crime

Under current Hong Kong law, merely creating AI-generated intimate images without distributing them is not a criminal offence — only publication or threats to publish are covered . Victims of the HKU deepfake case said legal consultations confirmed this gap, leaving no criminal recourse against the student who created the images . The Hong Kong Security Bureau has announced it will launch a public consultation to expand sexual offences laws to cover deepfake pornography, aiming to pass amendments by 2026 . The Hong Kong Bar Association has called for a "targeted law" to address the problem . However, as of mid-2026, the law has not yet been amended.

6. Low awareness among parents and children

The PCPD has found that parents and children in Hong Kong have generally insufficient awareness of deepfake risks, and that malicious deepfake cases involving children are rising rapidly . "Sharenting" — parents oversharing children's photos online — provides raw material that can be easily misused for deepfake creation . The PCPD has published an "Abuse of AI Deepfakes: Toolkit for Schools and Parents" in December 2025 to raise awareness and provide practical guidance .

7. Once online, near-impossible removal

Fake intimate images, once disseminated, are extremely difficult to remove from the internet, causing lasting harm to victims . This permanence compounds the psychological damage, as victims know the images may resurface at any time.

What is being done?

In response to these dangers, the PCPD has launched a criminal investigation into the HKU incident and published a toolkit for schools and parents . The Hong Kong government is reviewing legal frameworks, with the Security Bureau planning a public consultation on expanding sexual offences laws to cover deepfake pornography . Privacy authorities in Hong Kong, along with nearly 60 global counterparts, issued a joint statement raising alarms over AI-generated harmful imagery, especially concerning children .

What can parents and schools do?

The PCPD's toolkit advises parents to think carefully before posting photos or videos of their children online, and urges schools to educate students about the risks and legal consequences of creating or sharing deepfakes . Experts recommend teaching children critical digital literacy skills and encouraging open conversations about online safety .