Calgary Police Urge Parents to Combat Rising AI-Porn Threat

In Calgary, authorities are raising alarms as instances of artificial intelligence-generated pornographic images involving minors continue to rise. Recent reports indicate that children and youth are increasingly discovering fake, AI-manipulated photos of themselves being circulated online. Staff Sgt. Mark Auger of Alberta’s Internet Child Exploitation team emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to enhance safety.

To protect their children, Auger advises parents to encourage them to adjust privacy settings on social media platforms. Keeping profiles private and limiting friend lists to known contacts can significantly reduce exposure to potential threats. “As soon as you accept them as a friend or contact or a connection, you’re letting them into your house,” Auger explained during an interview.

In a recent case, Auger’s unit charged a 17-year-old boy with multiple offenses, including the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse materials. Allegations suggest that he used AI technology to generate sexualized images of teenage girls from various Calgary high schools and shared this material on social media. The identities of both the victims and the accused are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and police have not disclosed any further details about the schools involved or their relationship to the accused.

In addressing online communications, Auger warns against moving conversations to chat platforms that may not have robust reporting processes. “Safer online practices can help, but for policing agencies, keeping up with the technology is a near-impossible footrace,” he noted. Law enforcement faces the challenge of ensuring safety while keeping pace with rapidly evolving AI capabilities.

The situation in Calgary mirrors similar incidents across Canada, where teenagers have utilized artificial intelligence to create inappropriate images of peers. Cases in cities such as Winnipeg and Guelph, Ontario, have seen accused individuals not face charges. The Internet Watch Foundation reported a staggering increase in AI-generated pornographic content, jumping from two cases in the first half of 2024 to nearly 1,300 in the same timeframe in 2025.

As these incidents proliferate, questions emerge about how to appropriately charge young offenders in court. Auger highlighted that the nature of the offense can influence police discretion when determining charges, particularly if the material was used for extortion. “When it’s weaponized and used to hurt another person, that’s where it goes to a chargeable offense,” he explained.

Dr. Lara Karaian from the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University advocates for accountability while also suggesting that the judicial response should match the specific nature of the crime. Karaian argues that while deepfake pornography is inherently non-consensual, it may not equate to the severity of traditional sexual violations.

She draws parallels between the emergence of AI-generated sexual material and the rise of sexting, which led to new federal regulations in 2015 aimed at criminalizing the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, commonly referred to as “revenge porn.” This legislation could potentially provide a framework for addressing AI-porn incidents involving minors, as Karaian suggests that charging youths with sexual abuse crimes may be a disproportionate response given the severe penalties involved, such as registration on the sex offender list.

The ongoing developments in Calgary and across Canada highlight the urgent need for parents, educators, and law enforcement to collaborate in safeguarding children from the escalating threats posed by AI technology. As society grapples with these challenges, comprehensive discussions on legal and ethical implications are critical to ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals in an increasingly digital world.