A significant portion of investigations by the Prince Edward Island RCMP related to online child sexual abuse now involve content created by artificial intelligence, according to RCMP officials. Scott Ferris, a senior communications adviser with P.E.I. RCMP, highlighted a notable rise in the use of AI-generated child sexual exploitation material within RCMP jurisdiction on the island. It is estimated that approximately 33% of current RCMP cases involving online child abuse now incorporate AI-generated content, excluding areas with their own police forces like Charlottetown, Summerside, and Kensington.
Constable Tim Keizer of the P.E.I. RCMP noted the increasing use of AI to produce or alter images of young individuals, making it challenging to differentiate between AI-generated and real images due to the high level of realism. Under Canadian law, AI-generated child sexual abuse material is treated no differently than actual depictions of minors, as outlined in Section 163.1 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits any material depicting minors for sexual purposes.
According to Cpl. Gavin Moore, the media relations officer for P.E.I. RCMP, about two cases each month involving child sexual abuse imagery lead to charges, but this figure likely represents less than half of the total cases due to factors like insufficient evidence. RCMP estimates suggest that AI models are increasingly used in around one-third of cases to create fake images and videos of fictional children for sexual purposes or to produce “deepfakes,” digitally altered versions of real people.
Deepfakes are commonly associated with sextortion cases, where criminals use manipulated images to extort money or explicit content from victims. In the past year, P.E.I. RCMP reported 26 instances of sextortion, with Summerside police identifying one case involving AI-generated child abuse material and another suspected case of AI-generated child sexual exploitation imagery.
It is crucial for young people and parents to understand the risks of sharing images online, as emphasized by Constable Keizer. Although AI-generated material may not depict real children, the potential harm remains significant, as noted by Jacques Marcoux, the director of research and analytics at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Marcoux stressed the importance of monitoring AI-generated exploitation to gauge the extent of the issue’s growth, emphasizing the need to address this evolving challenge despite the existing legal framework.
The utilization of AI in creating exploitative content continues to raise concerns, with Marcoux highlighting the increasing interest and demand for such material. Despite the legal framework treating AI-generated content similarly to real depictions, the evolving nature of AI technology underscores the need for vigilance and proactive measures to combat online child exploitation.
