Parents are being warned about a growing trend of sexually explicit videos and photos of youth being created online using artificial intelligence.
As schools are about to break for the summer and kids spend more time online, the ALERT Internet Child Exploitation unit is warning parents of deepfakes, which are videos, images or audio recordings that seem realistic but have been altered using AI. According to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, this includes faces being super-imposed, expressions being manipulated along with other changes that show someone doing or saying something that different than what they did. One in 10 kids say they know of situations where a friend or classmate has created “deepfake nudes” of other kids using AI tools. In 2024 there were 4,000 sexually explicit fake images and videos of youth were processed last year, according to cybertip.ca.
According to investigators some of these deepfakes are becoming part of investigations and it is an area that is continuing to grow. This is part of why the unit is making it a priority to continue to educate parents. Corporal Heather Bangle states ICE continues to hear stories about the negative impact AI is having.
“Especially when it’s used by someone with ill intent, each time we’re out in the community. It is imperative that parents are aware that this technology exists, especially with kids home this summer,” Bangle says.
Ways parents and guardians are advised they can protect their kids online is by ensuring they talk with them about their activities and build trust in the relationship so the child feels safe coming to tell you if something happens online. As well ICE encourages guardians to take an interest and learn about the interactions kids have on online platforms and ask questions about the different apps and games they use as well as the friends they use them with.
As well anyone with information about a child exploitation situation is asked to contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers.
