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Title: 25 Arrested in Global Operation Targeting AI Child Sexual Abuse Content
At least 25 individuals have been arrested as part of a massive global operation aimed at tackling the growing problem of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The announcement was made by Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency.
According to Europol, the majority of these arrests took place during a coordinated effort involving police forces from Denmark, the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Notably, U.S. law enforcement agencies did not participate in this operation.
The arrested individuals are suspected of being involved with an online platform that distributed AI-generated child sexual abuse content created by a Danish national who was previously apprehended last November. This individual allegedly allowed users to access the platform for a “symbolic online payment,” where they could view children being abused.
Europol emphasized the severity of this issue, stating that online child sexual exploitation remains one of the most significant threats in the European Union and is an ongoing priority for law enforcement agencies worldwide.
While Operation Cumberland focused on AI-generated content created from scratch, it has also raised concerns about the proliferation of “deepfake” imagery. These manipulated images often use real people’s likenesses without their consent and can have devastating consequences for those targeted.
CBS News reported in December that over 21,000 deepfake pornographic pictures or videos were found online during 2023, representing a staggering 460% increase from the previous year.
This alarming trend has prompted lawmakers to act swiftly. In recent weeks, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill called the “TAKE IT DOWN Act,” which aims to criminalize the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated content, and requires social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to remove such material within 48 hours of receiving a victim’s notice.
However, it appears that some online platforms may be slow to respond to this issue. CBS News discovered in mid-February that many deepfake celebrity images were still present on Meta-owned platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
