Concerns are growing that artificial intelligence is being used to create images of child sexual abuse

By Alanna Durkin Richer

Justice Department reporter Alanna Durkin Richer uncovered a disturbing new trend in which federal prosecutors are grappling with the use of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images and videos of children. Recognizing the urgency of the problem, he began taking a deep dive into how states across the United States were combating this growing threat and found that existing laws had yet to catch up. Following the passage of a new law in California, Durkin Richer identified victims in multiple states and conducted an extensive interview with the Justice Department official leading investigations in this area. In an impressive display of empathetic reporting, he also persuaded one of the victims, a former Disney television actor, to share his story with the AP. This victim had fought to change California law after a man used her Instagram photo to create deepfake, sexually explicit images. Video journalist Eugene Garcia traveled to Ventura County, California, to capture his experience on camera, and U.S. Reporting Team Chief Video Reporter Noreen Nasir has produced a compelling video package that sheds light on this critical issue.

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