San Diego Police warns about online predators using artificial intelligence to target children
San Diego Police warns about online predators using artificial intelligence to target children
Publish Date: 2026-02-13 01:29:00
Source Domain: www.cbs8.com
Online predators increasingly use AI tools like deepfakes to exploit children, prompting law enforcement to urge parents and caregivers to discuss online safety.
SAN DIEGO — Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly, and law enforcement officials note that online predators are using technology to target children.
According to a social media post shared by the San Diego Police Department, offenders often pose as teenagers, move conversations to private platforms, then use fear or shame to demand money or images.
San Diego Police Officer Anthony Carrasco emphasized the department’s commitment to raising awareness about the threat.
“We’re seeing an uptick in sextortion and child exploitation online specifically, and so we want to get that word out for parents and caregivers to have those tough conversations with their kids to prevent them from becoming victims,” Carrasco said.
Deepfakes represent a particularly deceptive tool used by predators. A deepfake is an artificial intelligence-generated image or video that appears real but is not. Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of San Diego, Nikolas Behar, explained that software programs create these images from simple prompts. Some tools are open-source and widely available with few restrictions, while others are online services with more restrictions.
Identifying fake images requires careful examination of specific details. Professor Behar explained that hands, feet and eyes often reveal the artificial origin of deepfakes. He noted that detection grows increasingly difficult as technology advances.
“Unfortunately the models that generate these deep fakes are getting better and better and so it’s getting…
