Introduction and Brief Analysis

A movie named “The Artifice Girl” portrayed A law enforcement agency developing an AI-based personification of a 12-year-old girl who appears to be exactly like a real person. Believing her to be an actual girl, perpetrators of child sexual exploitation were caught attempting to seek sexual favours. The movie showed how AI aided law enforcement, but the reality is that the emergence of Artificial Intelligence has posed numerous challenges in multiple directions. This example illustrates both the promise and the complexity of using AI in sensitive areas like law enforcement, where technological innovation must be carefully balanced with ethical and legal considerations.

Detection and Protection tools are constantly competing with technologies that generate content, automate grooming and challenge legal boundaries. Such technological advancements have provided enough ground for the proliferation of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM). Also known as child pornography under Section 2 (da) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, it defined it as - “means any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child which includes a photograph, video, digital or computer-generated image indistinguishable from an actual child and image created, adapted, or modified, but appears to depict a child.”

Artificial Intelligence is a category of technologies that attempt to shape human thoughts and behaviours using input algorithms and datasets. Two Primary applications can be considered in the context of CSEAM: classifiers and content generators. Classifiers are programs that learn from large data sets, which may be labelled or unlabelled and further classify what is restricted or illegal. Whereas generative AI is also trained on large datasets, it uses that knowledge to create new things. Majority of current AI research related to AI for CSEAM is done by the use of Artificial neural networks (ANNs), a type of AI that can be trained to identify unusual connections between items (classification) and to generate unique combinations of items (e.g., elements of a picture) based on the training data used.

Current Legal Landscape

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The legal Landscape in terms of AI is yet unclear and evolving, with different nations trying to track the evolution of AI and develop laws. However, some laws directly address CSEAM. The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) combats Illegal sexual content involving children. They have a “Model Legislation” for setting recommended sanctions/sentencing. According to research performed in 2018, Illegal sexual content involving children is illegal in 118 of the 196 Interpol member states. This figure represents countries that have sufficient legislation in place to meet 4 or 5 of the 5 criteria defined by the ICMEC.

CSEAM in India can be reported on various portals like the ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’. Online crimes related to children, including CSEAM, can be reported to this portal by visiting cybercrime.gov.in. This portal allows anonymous reporting, automatic FIR registration and tracking of your complaint. ‘I4C Sahyog Portal’ is another platform managed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). This portal integrates with social media platforms.

The Indian legal front for AI is evolving and CSEAM is well addressed in Indian laws and through judicial pronouncements. The Supreme Court judgement on Alliance and Anr v S Harish and ors is a landmark in this regard. The following principles were highlighted in this judgment.

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• The term “child pornography” should be substituted by “Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material” (CSEAM) and shall not be used for any further judicial proceeding, order, or judgment. Also, parliament should amend the same in POCSO and instead, the term CSEAM should be endorsed.
• Parliament to consider amending Section 15 (1) of POCSO to make it more convenient for the general public to report by way of an online portal.
• Implementing sex education programs to give young people a clear understanding of consent and the consequences of exploitation. To help prevent Problematic sexual behaviour (PSB), schools should teach students about consent, healthy relationships and appropriate behaviour.
• Support services to the victims and rehabilitation programs for the offenders are essential.
• Early identification of at-risk individuals and implementation of intervention strategies for youth.

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Distinctive Challenges

According to a report by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a significant number of reports about child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) are linked to perpetrators based outside the country. This highlights major challenges related to jurisdiction and anonymity in addressing such crimes. Since the issue concerns children and considering the cross-border nature of the internet and the emergence of AI, Nations across the globe need to come together to solve this matter. Delays in the extradition procedure and irregular legal processes across the jurisdictions hinder the apprehension of offenders and the delivery of justice to victims.

CyberPeace Recommendations

For effective regulation of AI-generated CSEAM, laws are required to be strengthened for AI developers and trainers to prevent misuse of their tools. AI should be designed with its ethical considerations, ensuring respect for privacy, consent and child rights. There can be a self-regulation mechanism for AI models to recognise and restrict red flags related to CSEAM and indicate grooming or potential abuse.

A distinct Indian CSEAM reporting portal is urgently needed, as cybercrimes are increasing throughout the nation. Depending on the integrated portal may lead to ignorance of AI-based CSEAM cases. This would result in faster response and focused tracking. Since AI-generated content is detectable. The portal should also include an automated AI-content detection system linked directly to law enforcement for swift action.

Furthermore, International cooperation is of utmost importance to win the battle of AI-enabled challenges and to fill the jurisdictional gaps. A united global effort is required. Using a common technology and unified international laws is essential to tackle AI-driven child sexual exploitation across borders and protect children everywhere. CSEAM is an extremely serious issue. Children are among the most vulnerable to such harmful content. This threat must be addressed without delay, through stronger policies, dedicated reporting mechanisms and swift action to protect children from exploitation.

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References:

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193824000433?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=94efffff09e95975
• https://aasc.assam.gov.in/sites/default/files/swf_utility_folder/departments/aasc_webcomindia_org_oi d_4/portlet/level_2/pocso_act.pdf
• https://www.manupatracademy.com/assets/pdf/legalpost/just-rights-for-children-alliance-and-anr-vs-s‍harish-and-ors.pdfhttps://www.icmec.org‍https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/generative-ai

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Introduction

Cyber slavery has emerged as a serious menace. Offenders target innocent individuals, luring them with false promises of employment, only to capture them and subject them to horrific torture and forced labour. According to reports, hundreds of Indians have been imprisoned in 'Cyber Slavery' in certain Southeast Asian countries. Indians who have travelled to South Asian nations such as Cambodia in the hopes of finding work and establishing themselves have fallen victim to the illusion of internet slavery. According to reports, 30,000 Indians who travelled to this region on tourist visas between 2022 and 2024 did not return. India Today’s coverage demonstrated how survivors of cyber slavery who have somehow escaped and returned to India have talked about the terrifying experiences they had while being coerced into engaging in cyber slavery.

Tricked by a Job Offer, Trapped in Cyber Slavery

India Today aired testimonials of cyber slavery victims who described how they were trapped. One individual shared that he had applied for a well-paying job as an electrician in Cambodia through an agent in Delhi. However, upon arriving in Cambodia, he was offered a job with a Chinese company where he was forced to participate in cyber scam operations and online fraudulent activities.

He revealed that a personal system and mobile phone were provided, and they were compelled to cheat Indian individuals using these devices and commit cyber fraud. They were forced to work 12-hour shifts. After working there for several months, he repeatedly requested his agent to help him escape. In response, the Chinese group violently loaded him into a truck, assaulted him, and left him for dead on the side of the road. Despite this, he managed to survive. He contacted locals and eventually got in touch with his brother in India, and somehow, he managed to return home.

This case highlights how cyber-criminal groups deceive innocent individuals with the false promise of employment and then coerce them into committing cyber fraud against their own country. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), there has been a significant rise in cybercrimes targeting Indians, with approximately 45% of these cases originating from Southeast Asia.

CyberPeace Recommendations

Cyber slavery has developed as a serious problem, beginning with digital deception and progressing to physical torture and violent actions to commit fraudulent online acts. It is a serious issue that also violates human rights. The government has already taken note of the situation, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is taking proactive steps to address it. It is important for netizens to exercise due care and caution, as awareness is the first line of defence. By remaining vigilant, they can oppose and detect the digital deceit of phony job opportunities in foreign nations and the manipulative techniques of scammers. Netizens can protect themselves from significant threats that could harm their lives by staying watchful and double-checking information from reliable sources.

References

1. CyberPeace Highlights Cyber Slavery: A Serious Concern https://www.cyberpeace.org/resources/blogs/cyber-slavery-a-serious-concern
2. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-today-operation-cyber-slaves-stories-of-golden-triangle-network-of-fake-job-offers-2642498-2024-11-29
3. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/cyber-slavery-survivors-narrate-harrowing-accounts-of-torture-2642540-2024-11-29?utm_source=washare

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Executive Summary:

A viral online video claims Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promotes an investment project. However, the CyberPeace Research Team has confirmed that the video is a deepfake, created using AI technology to manipulate Trudeau's facial expressions and voice. The original footage has no connection to any investment project. The claim that Justin Trudeau endorses this project is false and misleading.

Claims:

A viral video falsely claims that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is endorsing an investment project.

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Fact Check:

Upon receiving the viral posts, we conducted a Google Lens search on the keyframes of the video. The search led us to various legitimate sources featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, none of which included promotion of any investment projects. The viral video exhibited signs of digital manipulation, prompting a deeper investigation.

We used AI detection tools, such as TrueMedia, to analyze the video. The analysis confirmed with 99.8% confidence that the video was a deepfake. The tools identified "substantial evidence of manipulation," particularly in the facial movements and voice, which were found to be artificially generated.

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Additionally, an extensive review of official statements and interviews with Prime Minister Trudeau revealed no mention of any such investment project. No credible reports were found linking Trudeau to this promotion, further confirming the video’s inauthenticity.

Conclusion:

The viral video claiming that Justin Trudeau promotes an investment project is a deepfake. The research using various tools such as Google Lens, AI detection tool confirms that the video is manipulated using AI technology. Additionally, there is no information in any official sources. Thus, the CyberPeace Research Team confirms that the video was manipulated using AI technology, making the claim false and misleading.

• Claim: Justin Trudeau promotes an investment project viral on social media.
• Claimed on: Facebook
• Fact Check: False & Misleading

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