At the national and international level, the Child Pornography and Child Sex Tourism Combat Team (TBKK) of the police is collaborating to prevent child abuse and combat the distribution of child pornography. The creation, distribution, and purchasing (providing access to) child pornography created with artificial intelligence is punishable by law.

‘We make no distinction between images of real children and AI-generated images,’ explains Ben van Mierlo, national coordinator of the Child Pornography and Child Sex Tourism Combat Team (TBKK). ‘Not only because child pornography made with AI is not always distinguishable from real abuse images, but also because real abuse material is used in the creation of child pornographic AI images. These images help the AI tool improve itself. Additionally, it can actually contribute to sexual abuse.’

Payments
The warning interviews conducted by the team stem from an arrest in Denmark. The suspect managed an online platform where he sold the material he produced. After an online payment, users from around the world received a password granting access to the platform. Every month, they received a new folder containing between 500 and 1500 images.

Stop it now
Based on those PayPal payments, the suspects could be identified. In total, over 270 individuals from 19 different countries came into view. This led to multiple arrests, searches, and warnings. Based on the information from Europol, the Dutch police could take action. Investigators from the TBKK will conduct warning interviews with four individuals suspected of purchasing child pornographic material created with AI.

Van Mierlo: ‘These are suspects who have not previously committed similar offenses and do not have children in their immediate surroundings. Through the warning interviews, we want to send the signal that we know what they are doing and that they need to stop their activities. Due to the emergence of this technology, we find it especially important to send a very clear message: creating, buying, and distributing child pornography – even if it is made with AI – is punishable by law. Stop it and seek help, for example, from the organization Stop it Now.

Stop it Now is there for anyone who is concerned about their sexual feelings and/or behavior towards minors. You can call or chat anonymously with a staff member of Stop it Now: www.stopitnow.nl

Tens of Thousands of Images
Each month, the Dutch police encounters countless child pornographic images created by or with the help of AI. Although it is unclear how many images are exactly circulating, many tens of thousands of fully AI-generated images have already been reported at a reporting center in the US over the past year. AI tools are also frequently used for other purposes such as revenge porn, sextortion, and bullying.