2 dozen arrested for distributing AI-generated child abuse images

Europol headquarters is pictured in The Hague, Netherlands. —REUTERS

AMSTERDAM—Two dozen people were arrested this week for their role in a criminal group that distributed images generated by artificial intelligence of children being sexually abused, Europol said on Friday.

The operation is one of the first involving AI-generated child abuse material, Europol said, adding there was a lack of national legislation surrounding the use of AI tools for this purpose.

The main suspect, a Danish national, ran an online platform where he distributed the AI-generated material he produced.

Users around the world paid a “symbolic online payment” to access the platform.

The operation is ongoing, with authorities from 19 countries involved.

Most of the 25 arrests were carried out simultaneously on Wednesday in the operation led by Danish authorities, with more expected in the coming weeks, according to Europol.

Reuters

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.