CANBERRA (Xinhua): Australian teenagers who experience online sexual abuse are more likely to disclose it to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots than to authorities, a national study has found.
The study of almost 2,000 Australians aged 16 to 18, conducted in early 2026 by Adelaide University's Australian Cybercrime Observatory, found that 18.7 per cent of victims told an AI about their experience, compared with 13.2 per cent who reported it to a teacher, doctor, counsellor, police officer or helpline, according to a university statement released on Monday.
More than one in four cases of nonconsensual sharing of sexual images involved AI, while at least one in 25 Australians had experienced, or had a close friend who had experienced, AI-related online sexual victimisation before the age of 18, showed the findings published in Child Abuse & Neglect.
Girls experienced higher rates of online sexual victimisation overall, but boys were significantly more likely to be targeted when AI was involved, it said, adding that more than one-third of adolescents also expressed concern that AI could be used to create fake images of themselves or people they cared about.
The findings highlighted the need for reporting pathways accessible through AI tools, peer-focused prevention and broader efforts to protect children, researchers said.
"AI involvement in this abuse is worryingly common, and victims are now more likely to tell an AI than teachers, doctors, police or reporting services. We must adapt quickly to protect children," said Associate Professor Timothy Cubitt from Adelaide University, who is also the study's co-author. - Xinhua
