AI tools used in child sexual exploitation and grooming in Croatia
Tomislav Ramljak, head of Croatia's Center for Safer Internet, warned that artificial intelligence has become a tool for child exploitation, enabling predators to manipulate images of children and recruit victims at scale. Applications that remove clothing from images of children are reportedly being used for extortion and peer-to-peer abuse.
What happened
Tomislav Ramljak, head of Croatia's Center for Safer Internet and court expert on child protection online, stated that artificial intelligence has become a new weapon for predators on the internet.
Applications that enable manipulation of photographs of children exist and can remove clothing from images of children, which are then used for extortion. These applications are easily accessible and children use them against each other as a form of peer abuse.
Predators increasingly use artificial intelligence to recruit children—not one or two, but hundreds at the same time.
Reported impact
Online abuse leaves serious consequences on children's mental health. When explicit photographs are involved, the recovery process can be extremely long and painful.
Children are aware that such images remain on the internet and circulate in various groups, which further complicates their recovery and exit from the role of victim.
Governance controls
Ramljak emphasized that prevention is key and begins at home, with parents having daily conversations with children about the digital world and actively participating in their digital upbringing.
Educational institutions have a key role in educating children about safe internet use, including teaching them to think critically, develop empathy, and use technology safely.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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