A junior girls football coach in Lethbridge, Alta., is facing multiple child sexual exploitation charges, including the allegation that he used artificial intelligence to make child pornography.
The suspect was allegedly using AI to manipulate and sexualize images of underage girls, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) said on Friday. He has been charged with making, distributing, possessing and accessing child pornography, as well as with transmitting an intimate image without consent.
ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit arrested the suspect on Wednesday, with help from the Lethbridge Police Service. The investigation dates back to last November, but ALERT said the suspect facing charges was only recently identified.
Mike Tucker, an ALERT spokesperson, said the case is disturbing and a “completely new phenomenon” in Alberta.
“I think this is probably one of the first cases in Alberta where we have seen this, especially where it’s being created in Alberta. It’s very rare,” said Tucker.
“We are seeing the emergence of artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, this is just kind of the worst-case example of how artificial intelligence is being used.”
ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit is working to identify possible victims affected by the case. The unit seized computers and other electronic devices from the suspect’s home, which are being analyzed by their forensic investigators.
Tucker said he hopes the athletes and parents affected by the case within Lethbridge’s girls football community can find the support they need, and added it’s especially important in this investigation to receive information from the public.
“Anytime when you have a position of trust and/or authority like a coach, we have to be cautious and alive to the fact that maybe someone on that team was affected or has information,” said Tucker.
“We want to just provide reassurances that we’re willing to listen and if they want to call and share that information, we’re happy to hear.”
ALERT said the images were shared using the instant messaging app Kik Messenger.
The suspect was released from custody with a variety of court-imposed conditions, including one preventing him from coaching anyone under 18 years old. He is scheduled to appear in a Lethbridge court on Aug. 8.