Halifax man accused of using AI to create child pornography

CITYnews halifax/ By Mark Hodgins

Police in Halifax have charged a man in connection with an investigation into using artificial intelligence to create images depicting child pornography.

Halifax Regional Police said the investigation started last September, when the Internet Child Exploitation unit got information that someone in the municipality was creating and sharing child sex abuse material using AI.

An arrested was made on Tuesday, and police say electronic devices were seized for analysis.

A 69-year-old Michael Burke Leblanc appeared in court on Wednesday morning to face charges of distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material and making child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

Related:

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• Charges laid in two cases of child pornography after search warrants
• Four people across Nova Scotia charged with child pornography offences

“While the investigation is ongoing, evidence at this stage does not yet suggest any real children were used or harmed in the creation of these materials,” police wrote in a release to media.

Anyone with information is asked to reach out to police.