Cookeville Police Department warning parents that offenders are using generative artificial intelligence to transform innocent photos of children into illegal pornographic material.
Detective Sergeant Joey Williams is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children division. He said the rise of generative AI over the last few years has led to a significant increase in offenders using digital tools to exploit images posted online.
“Unfortunately, these tools are able to create extremely realistic child pornography or CSAM materials,” Williams said, “Even including taking an innocent image of a child, using that child’s likeness and even creating videos.”
Williams said a recent local case in Cookeville involved an offender who took a fully clothed photo of a child attending an event and modified it to trade with other predators. Williams said that specific offender was convicted and is currently serving a prison sentence.
Williams said parents lose all control over a photograph once it is shared on a public platform. Williams said anyone can save a posted image and use it for purposes the original poster cannot prevent.
“Well, to be honest, it scares me to death,” Williams said. “Just like most parents, I’ve posted pictures of my children online, most every other parent that I know has, so this new technology is very scary.”
Williams said offenders are also using AI-generated images to conduct sextortion schemes against children. Williams said predators no longer have to entice a child into sending a nude photo, as they can now simply modify an innocent image and threaten to release it unless they are paid with money or gift cards.
“The offender can take an innocent image, modify that through AI, create a pornographic image, and then threaten to release that image to the child if they don’t send them money or gift cards or however they’re wanting to be paid,” Williams said.
Williams said the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 400,000 reports involving generative AI child pornography in 2023. Williams said parents should keep social media accounts private and ask family members not to repost images to limit their circulation.
“My caution to parents would be, not that you can’t ever post a picture of your child online, but just be very careful, keep your accounts private, and just keep in mind that anything you post online is theoretically forever and anyone can save that and do anything they want to do with it,” Williams said.
Williams said parents who discover their child has been victimized should use the Take It Down tool provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Williams said the technology flags contraband images and requires social media services or websites to remove the illegal content.
“I’m not sure what’s going to be done to stop it, but it is on the rise and it’s something parents need to be looking out for,” Williams said.
Williams said victims can also file a CyberTip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or report the activity to local law enforcement.
