Crime is a continuous social and legal problem that triggers fear and affects the quality of life for individuals. Serious crimes such as murder, domestic abuse, hate crime, and sexual assault are among the most disturbing forms of criminal activity.
In today’s world, advances in technologies such as AI and social media present new opportunities for potential offenders to commit crimes, leading to an unprecedented growth in crime rates. Criminals are using AI for reprehensible purposes like intimidation, harassment, and even planning murderous acts.
One notable case is that of Jaswant Singh Chail, who used AI-powered chatbots to plan an attack on the Queen at Windsor Castle. Chail utilized a large language model (LLM) ChatGPT and a generative AI chatbot app called Replika to carry out his scheme.
AI tools like ChatGPT are also being used by criminals for writing support, enabling them to craft effective marketing messages that lure in potential victims. Additionally, AI chatbots are being utilized in extremist online content for propaganda, recruitment, and cyber-attacks.
Social media is another avenue for potential offenders to commit crimes, with offenses like online hate crimes, sextortion, cyberstalking, child exploitation, and identity theft on the rise. Sextortion, in particular, has seen a significant increase in reported cases, with tragic outcomes like the suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay.
Despite the challenges posed by new technologies in facilitating criminal activities, law enforcement forces are also leveraging these tools to control crime. AI tools are being used to track users’ chat history, identify behavioral patterns, and predict potential future crimes, allowing law enforcement to better serve the community and ensure public safety.
While AI and social media bring new opportunities for criminals, they also offer law enforcement forces the means to combat crime effectively and protect the public from harm.