Get the Facts About CSAM: Child Sexual Abuse Material
CSAM isn’t pornography—it’s evidence of criminal exploitation of kids. Get informed, get outraged, and join RAINN’s fight to protect children from online sexual violence.
CSAM Isn’t Just Harmful—It’s Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is one of the most dangerous, fastest-growing crimes of our time. These are not just pictures or videos—they are records of real children being sexually abused. And once that abuse is uploaded, it can be shared endlessly with the click of a button.
CSAM is not pornography. It’s not “content.” It’s a crime.
Behind every file is a child who was harmed—often by someone they knew. Survivors live with the trauma long after the abuse ends, especially when they know the images could resurface anywhere, anytime.
And now, technology is making the problem worse. Social media, hidden forums, encrypted apps, and even AI are helping predators create and spread this abuse faster than law enforcement can keep up.
We all have a role to play in combatting child sexual abuse and CSAM.
In this guide, we’ll break down what CSAM is, who it affects, how it spreads, what the law says, and how you can protect kids, support survivors, and take action.
Get Informed. Get Outraged. Get Involved.
What is CSAM?
Start here to learn about this insidious form of tech-enabled sexual abuse. CSAM is NOT “child porn”—it’s a crime. Get informed, get outraged, and join the fight to stop child sexual abuse material.
Who Is Victimized by CSAM?
| The victims of CSAM are real children. Most are very young kids who deserve safety, dignity, and a future free from the trauma of sexual violence. |
What About AI-Generated CSAM—Like Deepfakes?
Synthetic child sexual abuse material (CSAM) may not involve a camera or physical contact—but it still depicts a child in a sexual context. And it still causes deep harm.
How Can Parents Help Protect Kids from Sexual Abuse & CSAM?
| Predators count on secrecy and shame to keep their young victims silent. The best protection is ensuring kids know they can talk to you—and that they’ll be believed. |
What Is RAINN Doing to Fight Back Against CSAM?
RAINN is leading the national response to child sexual abuse material through support for survivors, public education, and bipartisan legislative advocacy.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
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