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Virtual child sexual abuse material depicts fictitious children, but it can be used to disguise real abuse

Child sexual abuse material (previously known as child pornography) can be a confronting and uncomfortable topic.

Child sexual abuse material specifically refers to the possession, viewing, sharing, and creation of images or videos containing sexual or offensive material involving children.

But less publicized is another form of child sexual abuse material: virtual child sexual abuse material (VCSAM).

What's virtual child sexual abuse material (VCSAM)?

VCSAM is sexual content depicting fictitious children in formats such as text, drawings, deepfakes, or . It's also known as fictional child pornography, pseudo pornography, or fantasy images.

Recent technological advancements mean fictitious children can now be from real children in child sexual abuse material.

Some offenders create VCSAM through a morphing technique which uses technology to into exploitative ones.

A non-sexual image of a real child could be to include sexual content. For example a child holding a toy altered to depict the child holding adult genitals.

Morphing can also happen in the reverse, where an to look like a child—for example adult breasts are altered to look prepubescent.

Another type of VCSAM includes to create a final, more realistic airbrushed image.

But what might be most troubling about VCSAM is it may still feature images and videos of real children being sexually abused.

In fact, certain software can be used to make images and videos of real .

In this way, this allows offenders to effectively , potentially preventing law enforcement from bringing victims to safety.

It may also enable repeat offenders to avoid detection.

Why do some people engage with VCSAM?

There's limited evidence revealing why some people might engage with VCSAM.

To learn more about this offending group, for people who engage with such material.

We discovered why offenders might use VCSAM.

Some used it for relationship-building.

Despite the diverse offending group, some offenders who use child sexual abuse material have been found to have and .

Online communities of other deviant but like-minded people may therefore provide offenders with a greater . Such interactions may also, in turn, serve as positive reinforcement for their criminal behavior.

Others may use this material to achieve sexual arousal.

It could be argued the material may also the sexualization of children.

In fact, professionals in child welfare and law enforcement seem to share the concern that VCSAM may by framing the offenders' criminal behavior as acceptable.

Sometimes the material is used for "grooming."

Adult offenders may show child sexual abuse material to children, to the abusive act being depicted.

This is one form of grooming—that is, aimed to facilitate later sexual activity with a child.

Such material can also be how to engage in sexual activities.

For example, offenders may use VCSAM to show children material depicting young—and, most alarmingly, happy—.

An urgent cause for concern

Clearly, VCSAM is incredibly harmful.

It can be used to of real children, as a gateway to "" against children (meaning abusing them in real life), and as a technique.

Child welfare and law enforcement officials have sounded the alarm about the increasing creation and distribution of VCSAM for over a decade.

And it seems this problem will only escalate with the development of and digital technologies.

So while VCSAM remains illegal and offenders are frequently prosecuted, detecting—and ultimately preventing—these often obscure acts of abuse remains a challenge.