“No Child Was Harmed”: The Emergence of Child Sexual Abuse Offending Using AI Technologies

Child sexual abuse offending using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is emerging in criminal law cases in Tasmania. This article provides an overview of the nature of the problem, an insight into the thought processes of offenders using AI, and considerations for sentencing and risk management outcomes.

The Emergence of AI

Adult sexual attraction to children has been documented since early civilisation. The evolution of online technologies over the past 30-40 years has provided avenues for non-contact child sexual offending and communications between like-minded individuals that have not previously existed. The most recent development, which is now becoming evident in Tasmanian criminal law cases is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies by individuals with a sexual attraction to children.

How is AI being Used?

Cases are emerging in Tasmania where individuals who are sexually attracted to children are experimenting with AI to generate images and videos of their sexual fantasies. There are a range of applications that are easily accessible on electronic devices (e.g., smart phones, computers, tablets) that can currently be used for this purpose. Additionally, there are numerous secure messaging applications that currently facilitate communication between like-minded people, which may include conversations and the exchange of AI generated images and videos. The images and videos that can be created are currently only limited by human imagination and data available to the AI. The field of AI technology is rapidly developing, and it will take some time for law enforcement authorities to combat the impact of AI. There are currently international efforts to address this problem, including policing the responsibilities of the AI developers in ensuring their applications do not allow users to engage in illegal activities. However, these measures are at an early stage.

Thought Processes

I have been interviewing child sexual offenders in Tasmania for almost 30 years. In the past 6 months, the use of AI has started to emerge in cases that I am assessing for risk assessment and sentencing considerations. The individuals that are using AI to generate images and videos of their sexual fantasies involving children have expressed the justification for their decision to use AI as “not wanting to harm a real child”. This is an evolution in the thought process that previously justified non-contact offending (i.e., the viewing of child sexual abuse images and videos), with the offender believing that they have not harmed a child because they did not touch the child. There has been growing awareness that by viewing child sexual abuse materials online, this contributes to a child exploitation industry in which children are being harmed. AI has provided a platform by which an offender can distance themselves from the actual harm of a child, and also to create a more accurate depiction of their desired fantasy.

Is AI a Gateway to Harming a “Real” Child?

I have been asked if AI is a “safe” way for individuals to manage their sexual attraction to children, and if AI could have a place in therapy for the treatment of Paraphilic Disorders. My response is that the possession, production and distribution of AI-generated child sexual images and videos are illegal in Australia. Hence, even if there was an evidence base to support the use of AI in therapy, clinicians could not currently use that approach in Australia. From an anecdotal perspective, the individuals that I have interviewed are very diverse in their presentations and how they manage their sexual attraction to children. For some, the use of AI could assist them to safely manage their Paraphilic Disorder. However, for others AI would be a likely gateway to heighten fantasies towards children and increase their desire to experience the fantasy in real life (i.e., contact offending against a child).

Risk Assessment Using AI Content

Prior to the use of AI, an individual’s sexual interest in children could be examined by analysing online behaviours including the content and nature of the search terms selected, usernames created, and reviewing the conversations between “like-minded” internet users. The use of AI provides a graphic reflection of the nature of an individual’s sexual interests, including the age and physical characteristics of their preferred target child, and preferred sexual scenarios. Rather than being limited to accessing images and videos that are available, AI provides the mechanism for fantasy to come to life in a realistic graphic form, which can be achieved quite quickly for technologically advanced users. Collections of AI files generated by a user can provide a clearer assessment of an individual’s sexual interests and provide cogent examples for law enforcement classifiers of child sexual abuse material (i.e., linking volitional actions of creating AI images and videos to the criteria for criminal acts).

Co-Morbidity and the use of AI

Young offenders and adults with competent level IT knowledge (with a sexual attraction to children) are the most likely users of AI to generate child sexual abuse images and videos at the present time. There is also a cohort of neurodiverse individuals (e.g., young males with Autism Spectrum Disorder) who seek sexual gratification through the use of anime and AI-generated images and videos. This cohort can develop problematic fixated interests that result in prolific online offending behaviour. Due to co-morbidity, some offenders require specialist therapeutic interventions to assist them to manage their sexual thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Examination of these issues may be relevant in sentencing outcomes, including consideration of Verdins issues.

Treatment Options

Treatment options are available for individuals with sexual attraction to children, to assist with reducing the risk of harm to children. There are currently very few treatment providers in Tasmania, and those that offer these services are often at full capacity and unable to accept new clients.

Another option available for Tasmanians is a confidential online treatment program based in Germany: https://troubled-desire.com/en/ There is a treatment manual for clinicians that accompanies this program: Beier, K. (2021). Pedophilia, hebephilia and sexual offending against children: The Berlin Dissexuality Therapy (BEDIT). Switzerland: Springer.

Another useful and recently published resource is: Piche, L., & Schweighofer, A. (2023). Working with offenders who view online child sexual exploitation images. New York: Routledge.

In terms of other treatment options for young child sexual offenders in Tasmania, SASS and Mission Australia work in conjunction to deliver the PAST Program for individuals aged 17 and younger who are displaying harmful sexual behaviours. Enquiries can be directed to: pastprogram@sass.org.au

Dr Georgina O’Donnell
Forensic and Clinical Psychologist