It is any image of children, under 18 years old, involved in sexual activity (including actual physical abuse) or posed to be sexually provocative.

Because a child cannot legally give consent to being photographed in any of these situations, all such photographs are often described as “Child Abuse Images”.

The Internet Watch Foundation is authorised to assess and categorise such images in order to remove them from the Internet.

If you discover what you believe is an inappropriate image of a child being used on a website, make a full report of the website to the IWF .

It is illegal to create, upload or download, possess or distribute illegal images of children. Even looking at an indecent image of a child on your computer screen is breaking the law in this country.

Last updated on April 15, 2008 by The E-Victims Organisation