In addition to the many positive developments that artificial intelligence technologies bring to our lives, the use of this technology for malicious purposes is unfortunately increasing. Most recently, an incident in the US state of Wisconsin has once again demonstrated the seriousness of this situation. Steven Anderegg, a software engineer, faces charges of using artificial intelligence technologies to produce and distribute thousands of indecent images of child abuse.
Anderegg has been a software engineer for many years and is known as a very knowledgeable person in the field of technology. According to court documents, the 42-year-old sent an AI-generated nude image to a child on Instagram. It is reported that these actions drew the attention of law enforcement in October 2023 and an investigation was launched.
Images Shared on Instagram and Telegram
During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Anderegg shared BDSM-themed and AI-generated images of children on Instagram and Telegram. He is also alleged to have sent messages to other users indicating that they can access more such images.
13 Thousand Images Generated Using Stable Diffusion
As a result of the operation, approximately 13 thousand images of naked or semi-naked children created with artificial intelligence were found on Anderegg’s computer. For the production of these images, StabilityAI used its popular tool Stable Diffusion and gave very explicit commands. Anderegg was also found to have used negative redirects and some Stable Diffusion-specific plugins to prevent the production of adult images.
This incident once again highlights the serious consequences of the misuse of artificial intelligence and the need for increased security measures. If Anderegg is found guilty, he could face up to 70 years in prison and even life imprisonment. It is crucial that companies like Stability AI implement stricter controls and security measures on the models used.