Exploited Crimes & Technology - Comprehending how AI changes Sextortion

Lately, it seems nearly every hour we hear about how A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is affecting our lives. Trying to comprehend what that means to all of us on our day to day lives, and more important, how to protect our children while preparing them to live in a digitally altered world, could be one of the great challenges of all time.

This week we will look at several cases where kids have been sextorted by digitally manipulated images. We will explore the "Nudify" apps used to undress and "nudify" fully dressed images online. We will discuss recent research that indicates that 20% of preteens have online sexual encounters with adults. We will also look at another study by Thorn.org, one of the most respected organizations combating online exploitation. This study suggests that 31% of 13-17 year olds agree with the statement: "It is normal for people my age to share nudes with each other".

Artificial Intelligence will have many benefits in our lives. However, no one can predict the down side such as receiving a blackmail letter asking for thousands of dollars that includes a photo of your home, your address and a lot of your personal information. It is important for parents and young people to understand the changing world we live in and develop ways to protect ourselves and each other.