HOLLY HILL, Fla. – The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is presenting new and troubling challenges, particularly for law enforcement tackling online predators. Holly Hill Police Chief Byron Williams has raised concerns about the alarming ways AI is being exploited in the digital realm.

“It’s unsettling to see how AI is currently being employed,” Williams remarked, emphasizing the growing complexity it adds to criminal investigations.

Recently, a significant case highlighted these issues. David McKeown, a 47-year-old teacher, was apprehended in June for using AI technology to produce child pornography. This week, he received a hefty sentence of 135 years in prison.

“This marks the first instance we’ve encountered involving AI, but unfortunately, I suspect it won’t be the last,” Williams noted, expressing his apprehension about future cases.

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Williams is warning parents to monitor their children online, know what apps they’re using, and be careful about what is posted, because “you never know who could be lurking behind the screen.”

“Several of the challenges we are looking at are for one the volume of materials, they can produce thousands of images very quickly. And looking at who is behind the screen. They are able to keep themselves anonymous,” he said.

Williams says investigators trace IP addresses, dig into suspects’ digital footprints and more to stay ahead.

“It changes faster than traditional investigator tools can so that’s why we have to stay on top of this and make sure we partner with our federal and state partners,” Williams said.

When asked how AI-generated images even if not real are still dangerous, Williams said: “It doesn’t matter. The dangers that come with AI enhances sextortion for one, manipulated images using their social media photos online.”

He added that Florida law is clear: “Creation, possession, disruption of child pornography doesn’t care whether it’s AI generated or not.”

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This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis called for an AI Bill of Rights to protect minors from AI-generated depictions.

“We have a responsibility to make sure that we are creating sufficient guard rails so this stuff isn’t hurting our kids, our families, our business, and our senior citizens,” DeSantis said.

When asked whether the department is doing more to protect people from this type of crime, Williams responded: “We got more equipment that we are looking at ordering.”

Williams also said the department is strengthening its relationship with state and federal agencies that have more advanced equipment, because they want to ensure predators do not get away with this type of crime.