NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) operation showed new challenges in protecting kids from sexual exploitation.
In one instance, a man allegedly used AI to turn an image of his minor daughter into a nude photograph and shared it online.
With online sexual exploitation crimes becoming more disturbing, law enforcement says AI is also creating some complexities when it comes to investigating these cases .
“So, the ease that they can create this kind of material is probably going to double or triple our workload. Because some of these AI images are so realistic looking, we don’t know if it’s a real child or not,” said Paul Lusk, Digital Forensic Examiner at the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
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Earlier this year, News 2 spoke with Lusk told News 2 law enforcement can now prosecute individuals using AI just the same as cases involving real children.
This week, the TBI arrested ten individuals during ‘Operation Autumn Shield’ and charged them with sexual exploitation of children. In some cases, individuals had or shared over 100 images. In one instance, a man allegedly used AI to turn an image of his minor daughter into a nude photograph. Agents were able to identify 19 child victims in online sexual exploitation and sextortion cases.