Child sex crimes are on the rise with new AI tools. Here’s what to look out for. – KATU

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — At least once a week, if not more, KATU receives press releases from local law enforcement agencies announcing child sex crime busts. Many involve some form of luring or exploitation through a cellphone app or website. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Child Abuse Team Detective John Richardson said arrests for child sex crimes are increasing, but not nearly at the rate the crimes themselves likely are. “We don’t have enough investigators to work on these cases right now. We investigate probably 20% of the cyber tips that come in just because we don’t have the manpower,” he said. He said the increase is driven by the ease of access for predators, particularly as technology and tools like artificial intelligence become more sophisticated. “I think that it’s just gotten much easier to find the material. The AI stuff has made it, I think a lot easier for people to start producing content,” Richardson said. “You used to have to actually have photos and videos back in the day.” READ ALSO | Lake Oswego man charged in alleged multi-state child sexual exploitation case Now, rather than taking the high-risk action of producing real content, predators can generate AI-created images
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