Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on the Production of Illicit Materials

Abstract

Artificial intelligence has profoundly transformed different areas of human development, but it has also been used for criminal purposes, especially in the generation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This alarming phenomenon revealed AI's potential to create hyperrealistic content that is indistinguishable from real images, making it difficult to detect even by specialised analysts. The use of generative AI has enabled the production of sexual images and videos of minors, both synthetic and modified from real photos, posing a serious and growing threat. Organisations such as the Internet Watch Foundation and the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children have documented a significant increase in the number of reports, highlighting the need for more effective legal frameworks and public policies. At the local level, institutions such as the Buenos Aires Cybersecurity Centre warned about practices such as ‘deepnudes’, highlighting the urgent need to take action in national contexts as well. From a criminological perspective, AI was understood as a tool that facilitated criminal opportunities by reducing barriers for offenders and allowing crimes to be committed without direct contact with victims. In the absence of regulation and digital education, the need for a comprehensive response was raised, including legislation, prevention, international cooperation and citizen training. Protecting children and adolescents from these risks required a joint effort between governments, organisations and civil society to ensure the ethical and safe use of technology.