No arrests have been made in New Zealand yet. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
New Zealand police are part of a global operation targeting AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Led by Danish law enforcement and supported by Europol, 25 arrests were made across 21 countries on 26 February - no arrests were made in New Zealand.
The Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand Team (OCEANZ) are cracking-down and investigating potential offending in New Zealand - no arrests have been made in the country yet.
Detective senior sergeant Kepal Richards, officer in charge OCEANZ, said Operation Cumberland was the first of its kind.
Richards said the operation targeted "a 'professional' producer of fully AI-generated CSAM, based in Denmark, and the individuals across the world who paid for his content".
"A significant amount of work has been undertaken internationally to track and identify individuals distributing the abuse material, which showed disturbing portrayals of computer-generated children of various ages."
He said AI-generated abuse material was a growing issue for police around the world.
"Even when imagery doesn't depict 'real' victims, the material adds to an ecosystem that incites and glorifies the sexual abuse and harm of children.
"AI-generated child abuse material can be so realistic that resources are diverted from identifying real-life child victims, placing those children at ongoing risk of harm."
However, Richards said the focus on arresting those responsible for creating the content was "growing".
Police continue to work closely with international partners to combat the exploitation of children, he said.
In New Zealand, creating, possessing or distributing material that tends to promote or support the sexual exploitation of children is punishable.
Where to find help:
- NZ Police.
- Victim Support 0800 842 846.
- Rape Crisis: 0800 88 33 00.
- Rape Prevention Education.
- Empowerment Trust.
- HELP (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655.
- Safe to talk: 0800 044 334.
- Tautoko Tāne Male Survivors Aotearoa.
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496.
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