{"id":902,"date":"2026-03-11T19:49:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/?p=902"},"modified":"2026-04-23T15:05:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:05:57","slug":"the-new-age-of-satan-how-ai-and-abuse-are-fueling-a-2026-witchhunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/11\/the-new-age-of-satan-how-ai-and-abuse-are-fueling-a-2026-witchhunt\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Age of Satan: How AI and Abuse Are Fueling a 2026 Witchhunt"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

I was not expecting the first news headline I saw this morning to be<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cChatGPT driving rise in reports of \u2018satanic\u2019 organised and ritual abuse, UK experts say\u201d <\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

But it was. And since my initial thought was\u2026 what the fuck\u2026 it seemed like a topic worthy of investigation.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u00a0<\/p>

The Headline<\/h2>

The headline comes from reporting on concerns raised by safeguarding organisations, therapists, and police in the UK about organised and ritual abuse against children.<\/p>

There is currently no single criminal charge that covers this category of abuse. Instead, the term is used to describe situations where sexual abuse, violence, and neglect involve ritualistic elements intended to control or intimidate victims. These elements can sometimes include references to Satanism, witchcraft, spirit possession, fascism, or other esoteric belief systems.<\/p>

Perpetrators range from abusive family networks to human traffickers, online gangs, and paedophile rings. As such, I believe the concern being raised here is not about fictional Satanic cults running entire underground societies. Rather, it is about serious criminal abuse that occasionally incorporates symbolic or ritualised behaviour.<\/p>

That distinction is incredibly important.<\/p>

According to available data<\/a>, there have been 59 crimes between January 2021 to November 2024 linked to faith or belief. Clinical psychologist Dr Elly Hanson, whose research informed recent briefings for police forces, argues that these convictions may represent the \u201ctip of the iceberg<\/em><\/a>\u201d (p. 9).<\/p>

In response, the UK\u2019s National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council (NPCC) and the Hydrant Programme \u2014 which supports police investigations into child abuse \u2014 have begun developing specialist training on what they call \u201cwitchcraft, spirit possession and ritual abuse\u201d (WSPRA)<\/a>.<\/p>

These are deeply disturbing crimes, and they deserve serious investigation. But the story becomes a little stranger when artificial intelligence enters the picture.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What The Law Actually Covers<\/h2>

The law can be confusing, I\u2019d be lying if I said that wasn\u2019t my main takeaway from studying it for three years. So this also seems like the ample opportunity to dust off a few textbooks and get to the nitty gritty. One reason the issue is difficult to quantify is that UK criminal law does not recognise \u201critual abuse\u201d as a specific offence. Instead, cases involving ritualistic elements are prosecuted under existing offences that criminalise the underlying harm.<\/p>

In practice, that usually means charges under legislation such as the Sexual Offences Act 2003<\/a>, which covers a wide range of offences including rape, assault by penetration, sexual activity with a child, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.<\/p>

Where violence, coercion, or psychological control are involved, prosecutors may also rely on offences under the Serious Crime Act 2015<\/a>, particularly the offence of controlling or coercive behaviour. In situations involving organised groups or exploitation, additional charges may arise under the Modern Slavery Act 2015<\/a>. Child cruelty and neglect offences, meanwhile, still frequently fall under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933<\/a>, which remains one of the central statutes addressing the ill-treatment of children.<\/p>

More recently, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021<\/a> has broadened the legal understanding of abuse to include patterns of psychological, emotional, and controlling behaviour. This is particularly relevant where perpetrators use belief systems, supernatural threats, or ritualistic practices to intimidate victims.<\/p>

From a legal perspective, then, the \u201critual\u201d element is rarely treated as a separate crime. Instead, it appears as part of the evidential context \u2014 a method used by perpetrators to reinforce power or terrorise victims. Case law illustrates this dynamic. That of R v Bamu (2012)<\/a> is probably the most well-known UK case involving belief-based abuse. Kristy Bamu, a 15-year-old boy, was tortured and killed by relatives in London after being accused of witchcraft. His sister Magalie Bamu was also abused. The perpetrators believed the children were possessed and attempted to force confessions during what they framed as a kind of exorcism. The defendants were convicted of murder and child cruelty. Legally, the case was prosecuted entirely under existing homicide and child abuse offences, even though belief in witchcraft played a central role in the violence. It illustrates how supernatural accusations can be weaponised within abusive environments without constituting any separate criminal category.<\/p>

Another example illustrating the dangers of misinterpreting \u201critual indicators\u201d emerged in Rochdale in 1990<\/a>, when around twenty children were removed from their homes by social services following allegations of Satanic ritual abuse. The investigation was triggered after authorities claimed to have identified supposed \u201csatanic indicators\u201d within the families involved. However, no evidence of ritual activity or Satanic apparatus was ever discovered. The allegations ultimately collapsed in court when a judge ruled that the claims were unfounded. Years later, in 2006, several of the affected families pursued legal action against Rochdale Council, seeking compensation and an apology for the wrongful removal of their children.<\/p>

Examples like these help explain why reliable statistics are difficult to establish. Ritualistic or supernatural elements may appear in police investigations, victim testimony, or sentencing remarks, but the conviction itself will still be recorded under offences such as murder, sexual assault, trafficking, or child cruelty rather than under any distinct legal category of ritual abuse.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

So Why Is AI Relevant?!<\/h2>

The reason ChatGPT appears in the headline has less to do with the technology itself and more to do with how people are seeking support. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)<\/a> says it has seen a sustained rise in reports of ritual abuse over the past eighteen months. Over nine years the organisation has received around 36,700 calls, with 1,311 mentioning organised ritual abuse, which were primarily intergenerational.<\/p>

Some callers, however, have recently told support workers they were directed to the organisation after speaking with ChatGPT or other AI tools. Gabrielle Shaw, NAPAC\u2019s chief executive, explained that more people are using AI chatbots as a place to talk through personal experiences and difficult memories. As told in The Guardian, people contacting their support line have said things like:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cI was referred to you by ChatGPT.\u201d <\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

For a plethora of reasons, AI appears to be acting as a first step toward seeking real-world help. Shaw noted that the organisation would normally see spikes in calls around dates associated with supernatural or religious symbolism. What they are seeing now, however, is not a temporary spike but a steady increase in reports over time.<\/p>

From one perspective, that might actually be a positive development. If someone is struggling with trauma and an AI conversation encourages them to reach out to a support organisation, that could help them access services they might otherwise never contact. But clinicians and researchers are also raising concerns.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

You Should Really (Not) See A Therapist (Who Is Also A Chatbot)<\/h2>

I was incredibly shocked to learn that the first use of AI in clinical psychology<\/a> was all the way back in the late 1960s (!!!) when Joseph Weizenbaum created the ELIZA program<\/a>, a chatbot that simulated a Rogerian psychotherapist.<\/p>

Over the past few years, artificial intelligence has rapidly moved from technological novelty to something people use in everyday life \u2014 including for emotional support. This was something I found hard to believe at first, but it takes very little digging to unearth tens if not hundreds of online communities discussing their freshly baked AI companions. Many people now use AI chatbots to talk through personal struggles, seek advice, or reflect on difficult experiences. In some cases, individuals bring transcripts of these conversations into therapy sessions.<\/p>

Researchers have found that AI-assisted tools can sometimes improve outcomes when used alongside professional treatment<\/a>. Some studies even suggest that patients who use AI-guided monitoring and assistance between therapy sessions may see quicker improvements<\/a> in various aspects of their treatment.<\/p>

Thankfully, most mental health organisations and researchers are also very clear about the limits of these systems. The American Psychological Association has warned that chatbots and wellness apps<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201calone cannot solve the mental health crisis.\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Without proper safeguards, AI systems could provide misleading information, reinforce misunderstandings, or mimic emotional understanding without actually comprehending what users are experiencing.<\/p>

Psychologists are currently using the word \u201cdeceptive<\/a><\/em>\u201d when investigating human relationships with chatbots, which in all honesty I think is a bit of an understatement. AI chatbots are designed to affirm users rather than challenge assumptions, which can intensify anxieties, or even amplify delusional thinking in vulnerable people. In other words, AI can feel like a therapist despite its obvious lack of clinical training, accountability, and perhaps most importantly: human empathy.<\/p>

This brings me back to the headline\u2026 If people are increasingly using AI to process memories, ask questions about trauma, or make sense of difficult experiences, it\u2019s not surprising that some might eventually contact support organisations, if anything, it\u2019s a step in the right direction. But that\u2019s very different from saying that AI is causing a new wave of Satanic abuse claims.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A Familiar Pattern<\/h2>

To make sense of these headlines, it helps to look through the lens of moral panic theory. For anyone familiar with the history of the Satanic Panic, the language surrounding this story probably sounds eerily familiar. Just last week I talked about how important Jeffrey Victor\u2019s 1993 study was\u2026 and here we are again. To get to grips with the birth of a moral panic however, we\u2019ll have to rewind a few more decades.<\/p>

Stanley Cohen\u2019s (1967) classic research on the Mods and Rockers showed how societies repeatedly construct deviance by creating symbolic enemies, or \u201cfolk devils.\u201d Sensationalist media amplifies their actions, often out of proportion, turning them into convenient targets for collective anxiety. Goode and Ben-Yehuda (1994) formalised this with four criteria: concern, hostility, consensus, and disproportionality. Critics note this framework can underplay media power and ideological influence, as Hall et al. (1978) demonstrated in Britain during the 1970s mugging panic.<\/p>

Then, during the 1980s and early 1990s, both the UK and the United States experienced widespread allegations that secret networks of Satanic cults were abusing children as part of ritual ceremonies. So much so that these claims were investigated extensively by police and social services. In many cases they were fuelled by controversial therapeutic techniques, suggestive questioning, and sensationalist media coverage. Despite years of investigations, no evidence of organised Satanic cult networks was ever found.<\/p>

What we now refer to as the Satanic Panic became one of the most infamous moral panics of the late twentieth century. That history is what makes modern headlines about \u201csatanic ritual abuse\u201d particularly sensitive. Abuse involving ritualised behaviour can and does occur. But discussions about it often become polarised between total disbelief on one side and conspiracy narratives on the other, with very little space in between.<\/p>

Today\u2019s headlines about AI and ritual abuse follow a similar pattern. The underlying fears are real, but the \u201cfolk devil\u201d is being constructed \u2014 in this case, ChatGPT and the idea of modern Satanic abuse \u2014 to provide new a target for current social unease.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Language Problem<\/h2>

There\u2019s also another issue hiding beneath these headlines: the way certain words get used. Terms like \u201cSatanism,\u201d \u201cwitchcraft,\u201d and \u201critual abuse\u201d are often treated as interchangeable in media coverage. But they refer to very different things.<\/p>

During the original Satanic Panic, accusations involving witchcraft and Satanism frequently blurred the line between criminal abuse and legitimate religious practices. Practitioners of modern Pagan religions, such as Wicca, were sometimes caught in the fallout.<\/p>

Even today, Pagan groups warn that sensational language can easily revive those old misunderstandings<\/a> if distinctions between criminal behaviour and religious practice are ignored. In other words, the terminology used in these stories carries a lot of philosophical baggage.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Finding New Devils<\/h2>

There\u2019s also a crazy irony to all of this:<\/p>

In The Satanic Rituals, published in 1972 as a companion to the 1969 Satanic Bible, Anton LaVey wrote about the long human tradition of defining evil through outsiders. As he put it:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cThe Devil and his works have long assumed many forms\u2026 To Catholics, Protestants were devils. To Protestants, Catholics were devils. To both, Jews were devils\u2026 Man\u2019s ugly habit of elevating himself by defaming others is an unfortunate phenomenon<\/em>\u201d (p. 11).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

LaVey\u2019s point here wasn\u2019t really a theological observation. It was sociological.<\/p>

Throughout history, societies have repeatedly created symbolic villains; groups or forces that embody everything perceived as dangerous, immoral, or threatening to social order. Those villains change depending on the era: religious minorities, political enemies, cultural outsiders, or new technologies.<\/p>

The devil, in other words, is often less a literal figure than a social role waiting to be filled.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Why These Stories Keep Appearing<\/h2>

There\u2019s been a lot of talk lately about the world falling apart. Whether that\u2019s an exaggeration or not probably depends on your perspective, but it\u2019s become difficult to ignore the sense that we\u2019re living through a particularly uneasy moment.<\/p>

Political tensions are high, trust in institutions feels fragile, and every time I switch over to the news I hear another headline that somehow feels a bit more surreal than the last. I\u2019m frustrated that politicians are making all the wrong choices while the very state that funded my law degree can\u2019t follow the rules it taught me to uphold. Until people can genuinely trust those in power, it\u2019s no surprise that society looks for scapegoats, and in turn creates \u201cfalse devils\u201d to distract from the immense failings of those meant to lead. Trying to grapple with the severity of some of those stories can be exhausting. But they also provide a lens through which to view moments like this \u2014 including the seemingly random appearance of Satanic panic headlines in the good year 2026.<\/p>

Moral panics rarely appear out of nowhere. Rather infamously, they tend to surface during periods of social anxiety, when uncertainty creates fertile ground for stories about hidden threats and unseen forces influencing society. To quote LaVey once again:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cBut wait. We are experiencing one of those unique periods in history when the villain consistently becomes heroic. The cult of the anti-hero has exalted the rebel and the malefactor. Because man does little in moderation, selective acceptance of new and revolutionary themes is nonexistent. Consequently all is chaos, and anything goes, however irrational, that is against established policy. Causes are a dime a dozen. Rebellion for rebellion’s sake often takes precedent over genuine need for change. The opposite has become desirable, hence this becomes the Age of Satan<\/em>\u201d (p. 11)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The details change, but the pattern remains consistent:<\/p>

In the 1980s, the villains were heavy metal music and role-playing games.
In the 2000s, it was internet conspiracy forums.
Now\u2026 after somehow ignoring the countless dilemmas surrounding job displacement, environmental destruction, intellectual property theft, data breaches, reliability and general production of absolute garbage\u2026 it might just be artificial intelligence\u2019s turn.<\/p>

I suspect we\u2019ll continue to see more stories like this as the year goes on, especially if political unease continues to shape public discourse. When societies feel unstable, we search for explanations, and sometimes those explanations take dramatic forms. That\u2019s the sad reality. But it\u2019s also a reminder that understanding the history of moral panics, and recognising their patterns when they reappear, has never stopped being relevant.<\/p>

And apparently, neither has Satan.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Bibliography<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Case Law<\/h3>

UK Parliament. (2003). Sexual Offences Act 2003<\/em> (c. 42). https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2003\/42\/contents<\/a><\/p>

UK Parliament. (2015). Serious Crime Act 2015<\/em> (c. 9). https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2015\/9\/contents<\/a><\/p>

UK Parliament. (2015). Modern Slavery Act 2015<\/em> (c. 30). https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2015\/30\/contents<\/a><\/p>

UK Parliament. (1933). Children and Young Persons Act 1933<\/em> (23\u201324 Geo. 5, c. 12). https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/Geo5\/23-24\/12<\/a><\/p>

UK Parliament. (2021). Domestic Abuse Act 2021<\/em> (c. 17). https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2021\/17\/contents<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

References<\/h3>

American Psychological Association. (2025, November 13). Artificial intelligence, wellness apps alone cannot solve mental health crisis<\/em>. https:\/\/www.apa.org\/news\/press\/releases\/2025\/11\/ai-wellness-apps-mental-health<\/a><\/p>

BBC News. (2012, March 14). Ritual abuse of children: Stories from London<\/em>. BBC News. https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk\u2011england\u2011london\u201117255470<\/a><\/p>

Cohen, S. (2011).\u00a0Folk devils and moral panics\u202f: the creation of the Mods and Rockers<\/em>. Routledge.<\/p>

Goode, E., & Ben-Yehuda, N. (1994). Moral Panics: Culture, Politics, and Social Construction.\u00a0Annual Review of Sociology,<\/em>\u00a020, 149-171.\u00a0https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1146\/annurev.so.20.080194.001053<\/a><\/p>

Hall, S., Critcher, C., Jefferson, T., Clarke, J, & Roberts, B. (1978).\u00a0Policing the Crisis: Mugging, the State and Law and Order<\/em>. Macmillan.<\/p>

Hanson, E. (2025). Organised ritual abuse and its wider context: Degradation, deception and disavowal: A research review and analysis<\/em>. Hydrant Programme & National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). https:\/\/napac.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Organised-ritual-abuse-and-its-wider-context.pdf<\/a><\/p>

Hydrant Programme. (2025, July). Investigating and responding to ritualistic abuse, including witchcraft and spirit possession: Operational briefing<\/em>. Hydrant Programme & National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC). https:\/\/www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk<\/a><\/p>

Hydrant Programme. (2025, July). Witchcraft, spirit possession and ritualistic abuse: Understanding a hidden and under-reported harm<\/em>. https:\/\/www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk\/latest-news\/witchcraft-spirit-possession-and-ritualistic-abuse-understanding-a-hidden-and-under-reported-harm<\/a><\/p>

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. (2018). The Middleton case<\/em> (Cambridge House, Knowl View and Rochdale investigation report: Part C \u2013 Knowl View School, Section 3). https:\/\/www.iicsa.org.uk\/reports-recommendations\/publications\/investigation\/cambridge-house-knowl-view-rochdale\/part-c-knowl-view-school\/section-3\/the-middleton-case.html<\/a><\/p>

LaVey, A. S. (1972). The Satanic rituals<\/em>. Avon.<\/p>

Metropolitan Police Service. (2025). Crimes of abuse linked to faith or belief from January 2021 to November 2024<\/em> (Freedom of Information request reference no. 01.FOI.24.041628). https:\/\/www.met.police.uk\/foi-ai\/metropolitan-police\/disclosure-2025\/january-2025\/crimes-abuse-linked-faith-belief-january2021-november2024\/\u00a0<\/a><\/p>

Moreno, M. (2026, March 8). AI therapy, the return of ritual abuse narratives, and the shadow of the Satanic Panic<\/em>. The Wild Hunt. https:\/\/wildhunt.org\/2026\/03\/ai-therapy-the-return-of-ritual-abuse-narratives-and-the-shadow-of-the-satanic-panic.html<\/a><\/p>

Olawade, D. B., Wada, O. Z., Odetayo, A., David-Olawade, A. C., Asaolu, F., & Eberhardt, J. (2024). Enhancing mental health with artificial intelligence: Current trends and future prospects. Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health<\/em>, 3, 100099. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.glmedi.2024.100099<\/a><\/p>

Osuh, C. (2026, March 8). ChatGPT driving rise in reports of \u2018satanic\u2019 organised and ritual abuse, UK experts say<\/em>. The Guardian. https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2026\/mar\/08\/chatgpt-driving-rise-in-reports-of-satanic-organised-ritual-abuse-uk-experts-say<\/a><\/p>

Paterson J. M. (2025). AI Mimicking and Interpreting Humans: Legal and Ethical Reflections. Journal of bioethical inquiry<\/em>, 22(3), 539\u2013550. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11673-025-10424-9<\/a><\/p>

Spytska L. (2025). The use of artificial intelligence in psychotherapy: development of intelligent therapeutic systems. BMC psychology<\/em>, 13(1), 175. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s40359-025-02491-9<\/a><\/p>

Victor, J. S. (1993).\u00a0Satanic panic\u202f: the creation of a contemporary legend<\/em>. Open Court.<\/p>

Weizenbaum, J. (1966). ELIZA\u2014a computer program for the study of natural language communication between man and machine. Communications of the ACM<\/em>, 9(1), 36-45. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1145\/365153.365168<\/a><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n <\/span>\n

\n \n \n\t\t\t\t\t\tKeep Reading...\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n \n <\/h1> <\/span>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n\t\t\t\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t \"Saw\n \n \n <\/a>\n
<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Saw In Stereo: Goregrind and The Aesthetic Of Disgust<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t<\/i> \n\t\t\t\t\tApril 22, 2026\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/span>\n \n\t\t\t\t<\/i>Research<\/a>\t\t\t<\/span>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAn analysis of goregrind\u2019s evolution from death metal and grindcore, examining how the genre uses...\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n Read More<\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t \"All\n \n \n <\/a>\n
<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

All Hail the Goat<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t<\/i> \n\t\t\t\t\tApril 16, 2026\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/span>\n \n\t\t\t\t<\/i>Research<\/a>\t\t\t<\/span>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGoats are one of the most recognisable symbols in Satanic imagery \u2014 from medieval depictions of the...\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n Read More<\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t \"Satanic\n \n \n <\/a>\n
<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Satanic Temple Declares Arkansas Victory<\/a><\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t<\/i> \n\t\t\t\t\tApril 13, 2026\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/span>\n \n\t\t\t\t<\/i>Research<\/a>\t\t\t<\/span>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow The Satanic Temple\u2019s Baphomet challenge exposed constitutional limits on religious monuments in...\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n
\n
\n Read More<\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New Age of Satan: How AI and Abuse Are Fueling a 2026 Witchhunt
\nI was not expecting the first news headline I saw this morning to be
\n\u201cChatGPT driving rise in reports of \u2018satanic\u2019 organised and ritual abuse, UK experts say\u201d
\nBut it was. And since my initial thought was\u2026 what the fuck\u2026 it seemed like a topic worthy of investigation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":913,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[27,24],"class_list":["post-902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-metal-studies","tag-satanic-panic"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1.png",1080,1350,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1.png",1080,1350,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1.png",1080,1350,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1-240x300.png",240,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1-819x1024.png",800,1000,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1.png",1080,1350,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/The-New-Age-of-Satan-1.png",1080,1350,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Izzy Grady","author_link":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/author\/izzytheadmin_6534540\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Research<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"The New Age of Satan: How AI and Abuse Are Fueling a 2026 Witchhunt I was not expecting the first news headline I saw this morning to be \u201cChatGPT driving rise in reports of \u2018satanic\u2019 organised and ritual abuse, UK experts say\u201d But it was. And since my initial thought was\u2026 what the fuck\u2026 it…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=902"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":925,"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/902\/revisions\/925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/satansells.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}