Police issue terrifying warning to parents over back to school photos
As the back-to-school season kicks off across Britain, police are warning parents to tread carefully when it comes to sharing 'first day' photos.
A new online safety campaign initiated by Sussex Police this week has been specifically aimed at social media-using mums and dads - especially those whose Instagram and Facebook accounts haven't been kept private.
The team uploaded a seemingly normal snap on the former, showing two young children - a boy and a girl - dressed in blue school uniforms, standing between their numbered front door and their mother's car.
A sign is also included in the image, reading, 'First day of Year 3 - 02/09/2026', along with their mother's hand, which holds a coffee cup bearing the name 'Jess' and a tiny love heart.
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Over the image, the text stated: "This picture seems normal... but..."
"Your house number, street name, their school's name, what year they are in and around how old they are, your car and registration, your name, that you are married.
"All this information from one single picture."
The team went on to warn: "Everyday family photos can be misused by AI tools to create illegal child abuse imagery.
"There are steps you can take, many you may already be doing, to protect your family and friends."
In the caption, Sussex Police's media team encouraged parents not to panic, but to approach the online arena with caution, given how quickly advances in technology can whip up criminal content nowadays.
"Hearing this as a parent or carer can feel alarming, but you are not alone," they wrote. "There are steps you can take, many you may already be doing, to protect your family and friends."
They advised mothers and fathers to check out the 'AI parent guide' on the @internet.watch.foundation (IWF)'s website in order to view the expert-recommended tips on this matter, and to report to the @national_crime_agency (NCA) if they're concerned their content may have been misused.
The campaign certainly seems to have struck a chord with a number of parents, many of whom praised the police team for raising awareness of the often detrimental advancements in AI technology.
"Thank you for that advice," one wrote in the comments. "Incredible how much info you are giving away in one photo!
"Well done all for your help."
Another agreed: "YES. More of this info needs to be out there."
A third added: "As a former social worker, I find this genuinely worrying. It is so easy to focus on the child in the photo and miss everything else in the frame!
"This is a good reminder for all of us to look at the whole picture before we post, especially when it comes to children!"
A fourth also warned: "This applies to private profiles as well! They can get in. Be vigilant."
Rhianna Benson