Child pornography that involves real children is a record of child sexual abuse . Similar terms such as `` child abuse material '' , `` child sexual abuse material '' , `` documented child sexual abuse '' , and `` depicted child sexual abuse '' are also used , as are the acronyms CAM and CAI . The term `` child pornography '' retains its legal definitions in various jurisdictions , along with related terms such as `` indecent photographs of a child '' and others .