Dutch police are warning of the growing threat of artificial intelligence (AI) being used to generate child sexual abuse material. According to data cited by the daily De Telegraaf, the number of reports of such content increased by 86% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The Team for Combating Child Pornography and Child Sex Tourism (TBKK) reports dozens of cases each month of AI being used to create images of sexual violence against minors. According to experts, it's currently impossible to clearly distinguish which materials are digitally created and which document actual abuse. Furthermore, images of real children—including authentic footage of sex crimes—are used to “train” the algorithms.
According to data from the independent association “Meld Misdaad Anoniem” (Report a Crime Anonymously), the number of reports of pedophile material increased from 82 in 2023 to 153 in 2024 – an 86 percent increase. Meanwhile, the organization “Offlimits” recorded 1,472 cases of AI-generated child abuse images.
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In February of this year, Europol conducted Operation Cumberland, which resulted in the arrest of 25 people in 19 countries, including four Dutch nationals. The suspects used a platform created by a Danish citizen that, for a fee, shared thousands of images generated by AI. The Dutch nationals received warnings but were not charged. Police concluded that they “had not previously committed similar acts and did not have children in their immediate vicinity.”
“The creation, distribution, and acquisition of child pornography – including that generated by AI – are punishable by law. We do not distinguish between real and digital images,” noted Ben van Mierlo, national coordinator of the TBKK.
Experts also warn against using AI to steal children's photos from social media and transform them into so-called deepfakes. Police urge people to report suspicious content to law enforcement or the Stop it Now organization.
From Amsterdam Patryk Kulpok (PAP)
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