July 22nd 2024.
Recently, there has been a disturbing discovery made by the Internet Watch Foundation. It seems that AI, or artificial intelligence, has been used to create fake images of child sexual abuse. These images are generated using real photos of actual victims as reference material. The IWF used an example of a young girl named Olivia (not her real name) who was subjected to unspeakable torture and rape between the ages of three and eight. Although she was rescued by police in 2023, her abuser had already posted videos and footage of her online. And now, years later, dark web users are using AI tools to create new, abusive images of her.
It's horrifying to think that these paedophiles are compiling collections of images of real, named victims, such as Olivia, and using them to fine-tune AI models to create even more disturbing material. The IWF has found that 90% of these generated images are so realistic that they could be considered the same as actual child sexual abuse material under the law. And what's even more alarming is that the possession of these AI-generated images is illegal, but the tools used to create them are both legal and easily accessible.
Some of these deepfake videos feature adult pornography that has been altered to show a child's face, while others use existing videos of actual child sexual abuse with another child's face superimposed. And because these images are based on real ones, they are becoming more and more difficult to distinguish from actual abuse material. In fact, the IWF has discovered that some AI models have even been used to generate sexualized images of celebrity children.
The technology behind these AI-generated images is advancing at an alarming rate. The IWF has found that hundreds of images can be created with just the click of a button, and some have a near flawless, photo-realistic quality. In fact, analysts have come across an 18-second video that was fully generated by AI and depicts an adult male raping a girl who appears to be around 10 years old. Though the video may flicker and glitch, the abuse in the clip is described as clear and continuous.
But as shocking as these videos may be, experts say that they are not yet sophisticated enough to pass as real. However, with the rapid advancements in AI technology, it's only a matter of time before these videos become indistinguishable from reality, just like how still images have become almost photo-realistic.
It's not just the dark web where these AI-generated images are being shared. The IWF has also found evidence of offenders openly discussing and sharing advice on how to use generative AI technology to create child sexual abuse imagery. They even provide step-by-step directions and make requests for specific models of named victims or celebrities.
The CEO of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Deborah Denis, has expressed concern over the lack of safeguards within AI technology that allows online child sex offenders to exploit it. She emphasizes the need for tech companies and politicians to address this issue urgently, as it is causing serious harm to real children around the world. It's also important for the public to be aware of the dangers of AI and its ability to cause harm to children. Creating and viewing sexual images of children, whether AI-generated or not, is illegal and has severe consequences for real victims. It's time for society to recognize that AI is not just a futuristic threat – it's already here and causing harm.
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