RNC Charge Youth with Sex Offences

A 17-year-old boy from Goulds has been charged with multiple sexual offences after police say he used artificial intelligence to digitally alter photos of teenage girls and create explicit images that were shared online.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) began investigating in January after receiving several reports from youth who said they had been exploited through the use of AI.

According to police, officers with the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault (CASA) Unit spoke with several teenage girls who reported that images of them had been digitally altered to create explicit content.

The altered images were then posted to social media platforms, police said.

As part of the investigation, officers executed search warrants and traced the images to a 17-year-old male from the Goulds.

The youth, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged July 29 with:

19 counts of making child sexual abuse and exploitation material;

19 counts of possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material;

19 counts of distributing child sexual abuse and exploitation material; and

One count of accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

The RNC is reminding the public that using AI to alter photographs and create sexual content without a person's consent, as well as sharing that content, can constitute criminal offences.

Police are also encouraging parents and caregivers to speak with young people about responsible technology use, consent and the potential consequences of online behaviour.

The RNC says members of the CASA Unit are available to speak with anyone who has information or questions about the investigation.