An Antioch-area man has been charged after police said he was associated with more than 50,000 images of child sexual abuse material generated by artificial intelligence, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
Mark E. Hansen, 42, of the 41100 block of North Lincoln Avenue, was charged after police executed a search warrant at his residence and saw the images on electronic devices.
Police said the investigation began after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children alerted them that illegal AI-generated material was being produced somewhere in Lake County.
The sheriff’s office determined that the device creating the AI material was at the Lincoln Avenue residence. Police executed a search warrant Thursday.
Authorities said that they found more than 50,000 images in online accounts, and hundreds of AI images and videos created by Hansen of children engaged in sex acts.
He has been charged with 13 counts of obscene depiction of a purported child. Police are working to determine whether actual children were used to create the AI-generated images/videos.
“Artificial intelligence is creating new challenges for law enforcement, and this case is a disturbing example of how it can be misused to facilitate the sexual exploitation of children,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “AI-generated child sexual abuse material is not harmless, and we cannot ignore the dangers it presents.”
AI workshop
As the item above shows, AI is becoming more ingrained in daily life, and there are some risks associated with it.
That’s why Round Lake Beach police will host a free safety workshop related to AI on Oct. 28 from 6-8 p.m. at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center.
“Holding the Line Against AI” will feature experts who will outline some of the scams, risks, online risks to children, deepfakes, voice cloning, and AI misinformation that are occurring. The session will offer tips on how members of the public can better protect themselves and their families.
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The session is free, but registration is required. Registration information can be found on the Round Lake Beach police Facebook page.
Officer honored
A Waukegan police officer was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his efforts in keeping impaired drivers off the streets.
MADD recently awarded Officer Ruslan Khamdulaev with its Law Enforcement Recognition Award.
“Throughout his career as a patrol officer, Officer Khamdulaev has consistently demonstrated a dedication to keeping our roadways safe,” WPD said in a social media post. “Through proactive patrol, high-visibility traffic enforcement, and thorough investigations, he has worked to identify and remove impaired drivers from our roadways — helping prevent crashes, injuries, and potentially life-changing consequences.”
Natural death
Waukegan police said they do not suspect foul play in the death of a man found lying in a parking lot Wednesday morning.
Police responded to the 1800 block of Grand Avenue, where a witness told officers that they saw the subject on the ground next to a car in the lot. The subject, a white man in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The car is believed to have been owned by the dead man.
The vehicle was towed to be examined by police. The coroner’s office responded to take possession of the man’s body.
The coroner’s office identified the man as 45-year-old Luis Cornejo of Waukegan. The cause of death appears to be natural causes, the sheriff’s office said Friday.