U.S. federal prosecutors are stepping up their pursuit of suspects who use artificial intelligence tools to manipulate or create child sex abuse images, as law enforcement fears the technology could spur a flood of illicit material.

Many of the images and videos of children being "hurt and abused are so realistic that they can be very difficult to tell apart from imagery of real children".

AI-generated child sex abuse content increasingly found on open web – watchdog - The Internet Watch Foundation said the public were being increasingly exposed to the distressing content.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Sentencing will be Dec. 17 for a city man who pleaded guilty Wednesday to sex crimes. Eduardo Pagan, 46, entered guilty pleas in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to six counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor before Judge Anthony D’Apolito.