Police Urge Parents to Protect Children from AI Porn Threats

In Calgary, law enforcement is sounding the alarm as incidents of children and youth encountering fake, AI-generated pornographic images circulate online. Staff Sgt. Mark Auger of Alberta’s Internet Child Exploitation team emphasizes the importance of safeguarding digital privacy. He advises parents to encourage their children to adjust social media settings to keep profiles private and limit connections to known individuals.

Auger noted that publicly available images can be easily manipulated, warning, “As soon as you accept them as a friend or contact or a connection, you’re letting them into your house.” Recently, his unit charged a 17-year-old boy with multiple offenses, including creating and distributing child sexual abuse materials. The accused allegedly used AI technology to generate sexualized images of teenage girls from various Calgary high schools and shared these materials on social media platforms.

Concerns Over AI Technology and Online Safety

The victims’ identities, along with the schools they attended, have not been disclosed due to protections under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The accused was apprehended with assistance from the Calgary police. Auger further advised against using different chat platforms, as offenders might switch to encrypted services that lack adequate reporting mechanisms.

Despite implementing safer online practices, Auger expressed frustration over the rapid evolution of technology, stating, “It’s not just in this very narrow offense group; the AI capabilities and uses are growing faster than we can keep up.” This case reflects a troubling trend in Canada, with several recent incidents involving teenagers using AI to create sexualized images of fellow students. Notably, similar cases in Winnipeg and Guelph have not led to charges against the accused.

According to a report from the Internet Watch Foundation, the number of AI-generated pornographic videos discovered online surged from just two in the first half of 2024 to nearly 1,300 in the same timeframe for 2025. As the frequency of these cases increases, questions arise regarding the legal framework for addressing such offenses.

Legal Challenges and Implications

Auger highlighted that the nature of the charges can depend on police discretion, particularly regarding whether the material was intended for extortion or other harmful purposes. “When it’s weaponized and used to hurt another person, that’s where it goes to a chargeable offense,” he explained.

Lara Karaian, a professor at the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University, emphasizes the need for accountability. However, she cautions that the response from the courts should be proportionate to the crime. Karaian argues that while AI-generated pornographic material is non-consensual, it may not warrant the same legal response as traditional sexual violations that have been recorded and distributed without consent.

She likened the emerging issue of AI-generated sexual material to the historical context of sexting. The introduction of new federal rules in 2015, which criminalized the non-consensual distribution of sexual images, offers an alternative avenue for courts to consider when dealing with AI-related offenses involving minors. Karaian suggests that charging minors with sexual abuse crimes may be too severe, given the potential consequences, including mandatory registration on the sex offender list.

This ongoing discussion underscores the complexities of navigating the legal landscape surrounding AI-generated content and the impact on youth. As technology continues to advance, both law enforcement and the judicial system face the daunting task of ensuring safety while adapting to new forms of digital exploitation.

This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on December 9, 2025.