Thursday, January 22, 2026
Entertainment
4 min read

Mara Wilson Details AI Nightmare of Child Sex Abuse Images

NZ Herald
January 20, 20262 days ago
Former Matilda child star Mara Wilson reveals AI nightmare of child sex abuse images

AI-Generated Summary
Auto-generated

Former child star Mara Wilson has revealed her distress over AI-generated child sexual abuse images, stating it's a violation that could happen to any child. Wilson, who felt safe during her acting career, emphasized the ease with which children's images can be exploited online. She called for tech companies to be accountable and for legislation to create safeguards against this growing threat.

“It didn’t matter that those images ‘weren’t me’, or that the fetish sites were ‘technically’ legal. “It was a painful, violating experience; a living nightmare I hoped no other child would have to go through.” Mara – who also appeared in 1993’s Mrs Doubtfire and 1994’s Miracle on 34th Street – clarified that she “always felt safe” on film sets. She added: “From ages 5 to 13, I was a child actor. “And while as of late we’ve heard many horror stories about the abusive things that happened to child actors behind the scenes, I always felt safe while filming.” She pointed out the terrifying reality that other children’s images could be used to create CSAM, even if they aren’t a celebrity. She said: “It is now infinitely easier for any child whose face has been posted on the internet to be sexually exploited. Millions of children could be forced to live my same nightmare.” She called on tech companies and social media platforms to “be held accountable”, and urged people to demand “legislation and technological safeguards”. She continued: “We also need to examine our own actions: nobody wants to think that if they share photos of their child, those images could end up in CSAM. “But it is a risk, one that parents need to protect their young children from, and warn their older children about.”

Rate this article

Login to rate this article

Comments

Please login to comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
    Mara Wilson on AI Child Abuse Images: A Nightmare