Man charged after creating sexual AI images of children he knows

A 41-year-old is facing a pair of charges after a child porn investigation by Waterloo regional police.

The case launched in October when there was an inquiry into the possession and creation of sexually explicit materials of children. The force’s internet child exploitation unit eventually laid charges against a Kitchener man in connection with a child sexual abuse and exploitation case.

Throughout the investigation, police learned that the images of child porn were created using artificial intelligence. They were children known to the accused, the press release reads.

The man is facing offences of:

• Possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material
• Making child sexual abuse and exploitation material

Growing concern about AI ‘deepfakes’

Police across the country have been warning parents of an emerging online trend of creating and sharing deceptive media made with artificial intelligence.

“Deepfakes” are often hyper-realistic AI-generated images, video or audio that realistically depict someone doing or saying something they did not actually do or say.

The technology is becoming cheaper and easier to use, and anyone with an internet connection can access its capabilities.

Citing a non-profit that builds technology to defend children from sexual abuse, police in Alberta said one-in-10 kids know of cases where their friends and classmates have created “deepfake nudes” of other kids.