A 17-year-old high school student in Calgary is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly using artificial intelligence to create, possess, and distribute child sexual abuse and exploitation material. The images reportedly involved fellow students from several Calgary-area high schools.
Police Investigation and Charges
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams' (ALERT) Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit led the investigation. Staff Sgt. Mark Auger of ALERT ICE stated the charges include making, possessing, and distributing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, as well as criminal harassment.
The investigation began in October 2025 after authorities received a tip. On November 13, 2025, with assistance from the Calgary Police Service, a search warrant was executed at a Calgary home. Officers seized two cellphones, a tablet, and a laptop as part of their evidence gathering.
Victims and Distribution on Social Media
The victims are all high school students under the age of 18. Staff Sgt. Auger indicated the victims are believed to be between approximately 14 to 15 years old and up.
According to investigators, the AI-generated materials were shared on multiple social media platforms. Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok were among the platforms identified.
A "Most Extreme Form of Bullying" and a Growing Trend
At a media event at Calgary Police Service Headquarters on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Staff Sgt. Auger delivered a stern warning. He emphasized that such actions are not a joke or a prank, but constitute "the most extreme form of bullying and a criminal offense." He added that police will take steps to stop this behavior.
Auger also noted a concerning trend linked to advancing technology. "With any technology, as it gets better and more readily accessible, there's ways to use it for bad behaviour," he said. He confirmed an uptick in the reporting, and offending, involving these types of platforms and software.
The accused teen, whose identity is protected to safeguard the victims, has been released on court-ordered conditions. These conditions include no contact with persons under the age of 16 unless incidental through work or school, and a prohibition on using any internet-capable electronics except for work or school purposes.
