DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWWL) — Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world, but recent events in Dubuque County reveal a troubling side of this technology. In the past six months, three cases have raised serious concerns about AI's impact on criminal justice and community safety.
Michael Kleinman, head of U.S. policy at the Future of Life Institute, emphasized the gravity of the situation. "What we're starting to see right now is just the tip of the iceberg," Kleinman said.
One alarming case involves AI-generated nude images of 44 girls from Cascade High allegedly created by male classmates. No charges have been filed yet, leaving the community and victims uncertain about the next steps.
"As our police departments and as our school districts try to put in place, what are the policies we need, how do we prosecute this? What kind of civil liability needs to be put in place?" Kleinman said. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts to establish appropriate protections.
In Iowa, lawmakers have responded by passing Senate File 2243 in 2024, making it a Class D felony to create or possess sexualized AI images of minors, even if they are fake. However, a federal bill under consideration could prevent states from enforcing new AI regulations for the next decade.
"One of the things that we're most concerned about looking ahead is the move by the federal government to potentially ban any state-level regulation of AI systems in the next 10 years," Kleinman said. This could shift regulatory power from communities to Washington, D.C.
Recently, another case came to light in Dubuque. Investigators report a staff member at Hempstead High is accused of creating computer-generated images of students.
Additionally, a former Dubuque County correctional officer allegedly possessed AI-generated images of minors among other illegal content. Despite the illegality of the content, tracing the tools used to create it remains challenging.
"A lot of the apps we see are built on underlying models that are developed by U.S. companies," Kleinman said. This complicates identifying whether the technology originates from American companies.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific apps or websites used in these cases, nor their country of origin. "It's already here, and it's not that our communities, our police departments, or our schools are behind it, we're just starting to see the impact," Kleinman noted, highlighting the broader implications beyond deep fakes.
These cases underscore the urgent need for regulations to keep pace with advancing AI technology. Without swift protections and real consequences, the risks associated with AI could only grow.
English (US) ·