Source: AgenSIR

According to the Italian Church and data reported by Meter, almost 3,000 children in Italy have fallen victim to online abuse driven by artificial intelligence technologies in just six months. AI-powered tools such as chatbots and DeepNude applications are being used to manipulate, exploit, and abuse minors digitally, often escaping parental and institutional control.

Church leaders, including Cardinal Zuppi and Monsignor Baturi, have raised the alarm and called for an “operational awareness” to address this growing emergency. They emphasize that technological innovation must be accompanied by ethical responsibility, effective monitoring, and legislative intervention. The Italian Church urges society, authorities, and lawmakers to implement concrete, coordinated actions to counteract these abuses and safeguard children’s rights and dignity in the digital age.

The article stresses that AI is amplifying the reach and impact of online predators, making abuse more widespread and harder to detect. The Church calls for a collective response involving all stakeholders — families, educators, tech companies, and legislators — to prevent further exploitation and protect the most vulnerable members of society.