The rise of generative AI could be putting children at risk.
Gloria Masters, founder of 'Handing The Shame Back', believes the current digital environment has enabled “much more sexualised content” of children to be available to predators.
AI tools allow people to remove clothing from people in photos, such as children, creating fake nude images they can then trade.
She told Kerre Woodham that share your photos with trusted friends and family members by all means, but the days of posting them on Facebook, Instagram, and other such platforms are gone.
According to Masters, research shows that 85% of online offenders become contact offenders, going on to abuse real children.
She says it’s important to stop giving predators a free pass and remove content so they can’t access it.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the carry wood of Morning's podcast from
news Talks hed B.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I read an interesting piece in the New Zealand Herald
over the weekend. Detective Inspector Scott Beard and sexual abuse
advocate Gloria Masters have launched a campaign to aid young
abuse victims. It's really interesting. There was a number of
interesting points which we'll cover, but one of the really
interesting points in the piece was that social media has
enabled much more sexualized content of children to be available
(00:35):
to predators. AI has the ability to remove the clothing
off a child, get that image, and then someone trades it.
Sexual abuse advocate and founder of Handing Back the Shame
charity Gloria Masters joins me. Now a very good morning
to you.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning Carrie.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
And before we get to the universal hand signal, which
hopefully will help young abuse victims get the help that
they need. So when it comes to AI and I
don't fully understand the implications of AIRE, just a photo
of the kids at the beach, and somebody can take
(01:16):
that image of your children, an innocent image of them,
you know, and shorts and t shirt, take those clothes
off and and use them as child pornography.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
One hundred correct. Oh my god, yeah, yeah. The reality
is that AI is capable of things we don't even
understand yet. And with this type of technology, parents innocently
(01:52):
post children and images online thinking they're safe and aren't
they lovely? And of course they are. But we're living
in a world now, in a reality now where children
are not safe and then not safe online in this sphere.
So by all means share your photos, videos, everything with
(02:14):
family groups, trusted friends and so. But I think the
days of posting them online on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
Are gone simply because we know that this is happening
and that children's images are being traded offshore. They are
(02:36):
worth money to these predators and it's a fast growing industry.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Will virtual pornography mean that real children won't be exploited?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Well, if they're basing it on the online imaging. What
we know to be true is that up to eighty
five percent of these predators petiphile then go on to
contact defend. So what happens is they're looking at these
images online, but up to eighty five percent of them
(03:17):
kerry then go on to source, procure, groom, family and
child and sexually abuse a child.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So that kind of pornography only makes them want the
real thing.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
One hundred. It's highly adive. And just what's really important, too,
I think, is we call it child's sexual abuse materials
simply because every act, every photo, every image shared is
a crime scene, punishable by law. So I think it's
(03:54):
really important we stop giving these predators a free pass
by removing content that they can't then access. Is that simple,
and I know it's hard to accept, but this is
the world we are living in in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well, I think we saw the MP last week holding
up a photo of her self naked that had been
manipulated with AI, so I guess you can see how
it can be done. But it means that every proud
grandparent has to make sure that it doesn't go online
for a wider audience. Every doting parent doesn't post a
(04:35):
photo so that everybody can see how gorgeous their kid is.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
That is so correct, and I'm grateful to be a
grandmother now myself, but that child's face will not be
ever seen online right.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
When it comes to those I mean, I am just
stunned at the level I suppose I shouldn't be, but
I'm stunned at the level of convictions I'm seeing of
men and some women who are guilty of child exploitation
when it comes to the photos, when it comes to
being parts of world War wide networks of predators, when
(05:08):
it comes to the abuse of children and the calculated abuse.
They know exactly what they're doing when they target vulnerable families.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Look they do. And unfortunately it's not just vulnerable children
and families. These people are experts at grooming. And the
group that's grinned the most is actually not the children,
it's the parents. So they make sure they have an
inroad with the parents. They become the new best friends.
(05:43):
They infiltrate by offering to babysit or offer help, very
very calculated and cunning, and people don't see it coming.
People don't see that it's actually that's the result of
what can happen. So I think it's really important that
(06:03):
we start to be a lot more cautious because our
tamariki ridded tonguey are at risk and they can't protect themselves.
That's up to us as the adults.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I was talking with a mum the other day who
said that sleepovers were becoming a thing of the past
that parents are more cautious about having other children stay
over for the night because you know, you might think
you know the parents, but do you know everybody that's
going to come into the house.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, that's right, and the unfortunate truth is that over
ninety percent of any child sexual abuse occurs by someone
well known or known to the family and or child.
So those are pretty big stats. Gone of the days
where the biggest threat was the man in the white band.
(07:02):
It's over ninety percent, unfortunately known, and that's where the
grooming comes in. And that's where things like education around
body safety rules for children is so essential.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
They're taught that in school, aren't they as part of
that it's your body, your choice, and you know you
don't let people touch.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
And no, no, not really a widespread thing.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I thought it was a school as part of the curriculum,
like when they were really little.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
When they're throughout the school program. We have New Zealand
police go in I think it's once every two years
and they do a keeping Ourselves Safe program and that
can be included there. But what you're talking about is
not necessarily mainstream. And the issue I think we have, Carrie,
(08:00):
is we've got to start educating the parents and tea
and safe adults to then educate the children. So it's
very it's we're beyond time. We're a bit behind in
this in New Zealand, and unfortunately our children then become
(08:21):
more at risk from these predators.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
See. One of the stories that haunts me, and you
know there'd be everybody has their own stories that stay
with them is that Olympia Jetson and Celia l Aplin
who were murdered by their abusive stepfather in two thousand
and one, and they had they'd asked for help. They
(08:45):
were eleven and twelve, and one of them wrote a
story at school that said she knew she would die,
and she did. She and her sister did because they
were being sexually abused. That reported it SIFs were coming around,
he said, if you tell anyone, I will kill you.
And they knew that would happen, and they asked for help,
and they begged for help and they were murdered.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yes, and look, it doesn't surprise me. Unfortunately, we have
huge stacks here in our country and we know that
because over ninety percent are said a known to the family.
It's very hard to pick who these people are, and
(09:29):
they look like you and they look like me. And
we know that between twenty eight and thirty two percent
of predators and pedophiles are now women, and we're going
to see more of that coming.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Through here we are. Okay, I've only got a minute
and a half, Helen tells me. So what can we do?
You tell me what we can do?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Okay, So my partner and I Detective Inspector Scott Beard,
alongside Handing the Shamebacker Foundation I've set up for survivors
and protection of children called Handing the Shame Back, we
are launching a global hand sign which people can use
and share. And we know that when children under sixteen,
(10:09):
which this is designed for, when they use it, they
are being seen and action is being taken. So we
have some success stories here in New Zealand and globally
it's taken off.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Okay, what does it look like? The hand sign?
Speaker 3 (10:25):
So it's the universal sign for help. It's hands straight
up par and open thumb across closed fist right, three ends.
But please share that, teach that global handsign hashtag.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
But save some kids and do not be posting any
more photos of the adorable children online giving fodder to
the predators. Thank you so much for what you do
and for your time today. Gloria Master is the founder
of Handing the Shameback.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
For more from Kerry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news
talks that'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the carry wood of Morning's podcast from
news Talks hed B.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I read an interesting piece in the New Zealand Herald
over the weekend. Detective Inspector Scott Beard and sexual abuse
advocate Gloria Masters have launched a campaign to aid young
abuse victims. It's really interesting. There was a number of
interesting points which we'll cover, but one of the really
interesting points in the piece was that social media has
enabled much more sexualized content of children to be available
(00:35):
to predators. AI has the ability to remove the clothing
off a child, get that image, and then someone trades it.
Sexual abuse advocate and founder of Handing Back the Shame
charity Gloria Masters joins me. Now a very good morning
to you.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning Carrie.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
And before we get to the universal hand signal, which
hopefully will help young abuse victims get the help that
they need. So when it comes to AI and I
don't fully understand the implications of AIRE, just a photo
of the kids at the beach, and somebody can take
(01:16):
that image of your children, an innocent image of them,
you know, and shorts and t shirt, take those clothes
off and and use them as child pornography.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
One hundred correct. Oh my god, yeah, yeah. The reality
is that AI is capable of things we don't even
understand yet. And with this type of technology, parents innocently
(01:52):
post children and images online thinking they're safe and aren't
they lovely? And of course they are. But we're living
in a world now, in a reality now where children
are not safe and then not safe online in this sphere.
So by all means share your photos, videos, everything with
(02:14):
family groups, trusted friends and so. But I think the
days of posting them online on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
Are gone simply because we know that this is happening
and that children's images are being traded offshore. They are
(02:36):
worth money to these predators and it's a fast growing industry.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Will virtual pornography mean that real children won't be exploited?
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Well, if they're basing it on the online imaging. What
we know to be true is that up to eighty
five percent of these predators petiphile then go on to
contact defend. So what happens is they're looking at these
images online, but up to eighty five percent of them
(03:17):
kerry then go on to source, procure, groom, family and
child and sexually abuse a child.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
So that kind of pornography only makes them want the
real thing.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
One hundred. It's highly adive. And just what's really important, too,
I think, is we call it child's sexual abuse materials
simply because every act, every photo, every image shared is
a crime scene, punishable by law. So I think it's
(03:54):
really important we stop giving these predators a free pass
by removing content that they can't then access. Is that simple,
and I know it's hard to accept, but this is
the world we are living in in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well, I think we saw the MP last week holding
up a photo of her self naked that had been
manipulated with AI, so I guess you can see how
it can be done. But it means that every proud
grandparent has to make sure that it doesn't go online
for a wider audience. Every doting parent doesn't post a
(04:35):
photo so that everybody can see how gorgeous their kid is.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
That is so correct, and I'm grateful to be a
grandmother now myself, but that child's face will not be
ever seen online right.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
When it comes to those I mean, I am just
stunned at the level I suppose I shouldn't be, but
I'm stunned at the level of convictions I'm seeing of
men and some women who are guilty of child exploitation
when it comes to the photos, when it comes to
being parts of world War wide networks of predators, when
(05:08):
it comes to the abuse of children and the calculated abuse.
They know exactly what they're doing when they target vulnerable families.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Look they do. And unfortunately it's not just vulnerable children
and families. These people are experts at grooming. And the
group that's grinned the most is actually not the children,
it's the parents. So they make sure they have an
inroad with the parents. They become the new best friends.
(05:43):
They infiltrate by offering to babysit or offer help, very
very calculated and cunning, and people don't see it coming.
People don't see that it's actually that's the result of
what can happen. So I think it's really important that
(06:03):
we start to be a lot more cautious because our
tamariki ridded tonguey are at risk and they can't protect themselves.
That's up to us as the adults.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I was talking with a mum the other day who
said that sleepovers were becoming a thing of the past
that parents are more cautious about having other children stay
over for the night because you know, you might think
you know the parents, but do you know everybody that's
going to come into the house.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, that's right, and the unfortunate truth is that over
ninety percent of any child sexual abuse occurs by someone
well known or known to the family and or child.
So those are pretty big stats. Gone of the days
where the biggest threat was the man in the white band.
(07:02):
It's over ninety percent, unfortunately known, and that's where the
grooming comes in. And that's where things like education around
body safety rules for children is so essential.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
They're taught that in school, aren't they as part of
that it's your body, your choice, and you know you
don't let people touch.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
And no, no, not really a widespread thing.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I thought it was a school as part of the curriculum,
like when they were really little.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
When they're throughout the school program. We have New Zealand
police go in I think it's once every two years
and they do a keeping Ourselves Safe program and that
can be included there. But what you're talking about is
not necessarily mainstream. And the issue I think we have, Carrie,
(08:00):
is we've got to start educating the parents and tea
and safe adults to then educate the children. So it's
very it's we're beyond time. We're a bit behind in
this in New Zealand, and unfortunately our children then become
(08:21):
more at risk from these predators.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
See. One of the stories that haunts me, and you
know there'd be everybody has their own stories that stay
with them is that Olympia Jetson and Celia l Aplin
who were murdered by their abusive stepfather in two thousand
and one, and they had they'd asked for help. They
(08:45):
were eleven and twelve, and one of them wrote a
story at school that said she knew she would die,
and she did. She and her sister did because they
were being sexually abused. That reported it SIFs were coming around,
he said, if you tell anyone, I will kill you.
And they knew that would happen, and they asked for help,
and they begged for help and they were murdered.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Yes, and look, it doesn't surprise me. Unfortunately, we have
huge stacks here in our country and we know that
because over ninety percent are said a known to the family.
It's very hard to pick who these people are, and
(09:29):
they look like you and they look like me. And
we know that between twenty eight and thirty two percent
of predators and pedophiles are now women, and we're going
to see more of that coming.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Through here we are. Okay, I've only got a minute
and a half, Helen tells me. So what can we do?
You tell me what we can do?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Okay, So my partner and I Detective Inspector Scott Beard,
alongside Handing the Shamebacker Foundation I've set up for survivors
and protection of children called Handing the Shame Back, we
are launching a global hand sign which people can use
and share. And we know that when children under sixteen,
(10:09):
which this is designed for, when they use it, they
are being seen and action is being taken. So we
have some success stories here in New Zealand and globally
it's taken off.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Okay, what does it look like? The hand sign?
Speaker 3 (10:25):
So it's the universal sign for help. It's hands straight
up par and open thumb across closed fist right, three ends.
But please share that, teach that global handsign hashtag.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
But save some kids and do not be posting any
more photos of the adorable children online giving fodder to
the predators. Thank you so much for what you do
and for your time today. Gloria Master is the founder
of Handing the Shameback.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
For more from Kerry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news
talks that'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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