In February 2026, UNICEF issued a statement calling on countries to expand criminal law definitions of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to explicitly include AI-generated content. In the same month, an Australian writer was convicted of child abuse offences for a fictional novel involving age-based roleplay. These developments reflect a broader global trend in which fictional sexual content—such as books, illustrations, stories, images, animated works, and generative AI-produced material—is increasingly being treated under the same legal frameworks as real abuse involving identifiable victims. This legal conflation raises concerns about freedom of expression, proportionality in sentencing, and the effective allocation of law enforcement resources.
This workshop presents findings from the Drawing the Line Watchlist 2025, a comprehensive legal review comparing how ten countries across six continents address fictional versus real abuse material and assessing compatibility with human rights standards. Our comparative analysis engages directly with the issues raised by UNICEF’s statement by examining how existing and proposed legal approaches treat AI-generated and fictional content alongside material involving real abuse. It evaluates whether this expanding criminal framework advances child protection goals or instead risks diverting attention and resources from identifying and supporting real victims and survivors.
Participants will examine case studies from jurisdictions where fictional content prosecutions have occurred, review our policy recommendations for reform, and discuss the Drawing the Line Principles – a framework for advocates, policymakers, and platforms to maintain focus on real abuse while protecting legitimate expression. This session aims to build a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to evidence-based child protection policies that don't sacrifice fundamental rights or survivor voices in the process.