The Rise of Deepfakes - It's Implications in the Dark World of CSAM
What are Deepfakes?
Deepfakes are created using advanced AI technologies, primarily through generative adversarial networks (GANs), which manipulate content to produce highly realistic images or videos, they have rapidly evolved from a novelty to a powerful, and potentially dangerous tool. Initially celebrated for their creative potential in filmmaking and advertising, one area where deepfakes have made a significant and terrifying impact is the production of CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material). This post explores the rise of deepfakes in CSAM, examining the technology, its implications, and the potential consequences for individuals and society.
The Intersection of Deepfakes and CSAM
The application of deepfake technology in CSAM production is a harrowing reality, one that I unfortunately have witnessed first-hand. By using AI to manipulate content, perpetrators can create highly convincing material that appears real, making it increasingly difficult to detect. This manipulation not only facilitates the spread of CSAM but also escalates the harm caused by such material.
Whilst I was conducting my role in the RAF Police, analysing and grading criminal imagery, which led to my C-PTSD, in about 2015 we saw the trend of pseudo imagery being used and at the time this was a loophole in the law that allowed the creation of images with fantasy characters and children as they were “not real”. Thankfully this loophole was closed quite quickly but it does show that technology is often ahead of laws and the people responsible for creating CSAM will use every advantage they can to continue what they do.
Using this technology also means there is less risk to the predator as they do not even need contact with the victim to abuse them and create sexual images of them and that therefore reduces their chances of being discovered.
It has become much more difficult to unmask the perpetrators who produce, store or distribute this material, each time I was involved in the discovery and unmasking of one it was always a surprise to note how ‘normal’ they were, especially to those around them, just another reason why I have immense difficulty trusting any human being and spend so much time with my wingman Leffe.
Real-World Implications and Potential Impact
Some people may think that because it is not real, what is the impact? What are the implications? Whilst it used to be that specific cases of deepfakes being used for CSAM were rare or non-publicised, the potential impact is very significant. As AI technology advances, the likelihood of such misuse increases, posing a threat to vulnerable populations, particularly children. The ethical implications of using deepfakes to produce CSAM are profound, as it adds layers of deception and harm beyond traditional CSAM.
A very recent case that highlights this perfectly was the paedophile Hugh Nelson who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for creating child abuse images using AI and real pictures of children. Nelson used a 3D character generator to turn ordinary pictures of children into child abuse images, before selling them on an internet forum used by artists. He charged his network of paedophiles £80 for a new "character" and £10 per image to animate them in different, explicit positions. Nelson made around £5,000 from selling these images over an 18-month period. In some cases, Nelson encouraged his clients to rape and sexually assault the children. The images that Nelson made have been linked back to real children around the world.
At this point, I want to reiterate something I have written about previously and using this example reinforce why it is so important to lock down your privacy settings on all social media that you are using, especially if you are somebody that posts pictures of your children on there. It still surprises me just how many people have completely open social media profiles, every photograph on there is available to people (I use the term ‘people’ in the loosest terms possible as I have much more descriptive words for the likes of Hugh Nelson that I am allowed to publish) like Hugh Nelson to use and abuse in any way they see fit, if that doesn’t scare you then I worry for you in so many ways.
A Call to Action
The deepfake phenomenon is still relatively new, and its long-term impact is yet to be fully understood. However, this technology has the potential to reshape the landscape of CSAM and raise profound ethical and societal questions. Moving forward, it's crucial that we:
Raise Awareness: Educating the public about the existence and potential dangers of deepfakes is crucial. This includes teaching people how to identify deepfakes and understand the implications of consuming such content, more importantly, parents and those with a duty of care for children need to understand the risks.
Develop Detection Technologies: Investing in research and development of deepfake detection technologies is important for combating the spread AI generated CSAM.
Strengthen Legal Frameworks: Lawmakers need to adapt existing legal frameworks to address the unique challenges posed by deepfakes. This includes clarifying issues of consent, liability, and intellectual property.
Promote Ethical AI Development: The development and deployment of AI technologies, including those used to create deepfakes, should be guided by ethical principles that prioritize human well-being and prevent harm.
Technology vendors and Social Media platforms have a responsibility to work towards the detection and removal of this material and make it much more difficult for perpetrators to be able to distribute and store it.
The conversation surrounding deepfakes and CSAM is complex and multifaceted. It requires a collaborative effort from technologists, policymakers, and the public to navigate the challenges and harness the potential of AI while mitigating its risks. This post is just a starting point for a much-needed discussion.
By fostering collaboration and advancing detection technologies, we can work towards safer digital environments and protect vulnerable children from the insidious harm of synthetic CSAM.
In conclusion, while deepfakes hold immense potential for creative and positive uses, their misuse in producing CSAM underscores the need for vigilance and proactive measures. The responsible development and deployment of AI technologies must be accompanied by robust safeguards to mitigate the risks posed by their abuse. A collective effort is required to ensure that technological progress does not outpace our commitment to protecting children and upholding ethical standards in the digital age.
