AFP’s AI Interprets Gen Z Slang to Reveal Hidden Online Exploitation Rings

The Australian Federal Police (AFP), in partnership with

, is working on an artificial intelligence prototype designed to interpret encrypted messages that include Gen Z slang, emojis, and other forms of digital shorthand commonly used by online predators and radicalization groups, as reported by . This technology is intended to speed up the process of identifying and rescuing children from exploitation. Commissioner Krissy Barrett highlighted its importance in tackling "sadistic online exploitation" that is often concealed within seemingly harmless communications, according to the Outpost. The project is a response to a rise in decentralized criminal groups, referred to as "crimefluencers," who prey on young girls through gamified tasks that encourage self-harm or violence to gain social standing, reported.

Barrett explained that these groups lack a central leadership but are connected by shared beliefs, ranging from nihilism to neo-Nazi ideologies. Investigations have so far identified 59 suspects between the ages of 17 and 20, resulting in nine arrests abroad and three within Australia, according to the Outpost. The AFP is also collaborating with the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group—which includes Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand—to coordinate international responses. Barrett pointed out that technological advances have shifted child protection from a "village-level concern to a country-level responsibility," emphasizing the necessity of global cooperation, as noted by the Outpost.

This AI initiative is part of a larger effort to address online dangers, such as AI-created child sexual abuse content and radicalization fueled by social media. Australia is set to implement a law on December 10 that will require platforms like Facebook and TikTok to restrict access for users under 16, according to the Outpost. Barrett cautioned that social media platforms have become hotspots for bullying and extremism, and the AFP's AI project is a crucial measure to confront these issues, as reported by the

.

The AFP also continues to use conventional investigative techniques. In one recent investigation, a 14-year-old came under scrutiny after Snapchat posts about violent extremism led to the discovery of plans for a school attack, including the confiscation of a tactical vest and drawings with extremist themes, according to the Guardian. Barrett emphasized that while AI is a powerful tool, human expertise is still essential, referencing a case where a data scientist manually uncovered a crypto-laundering pattern that AI had missed, as reported by

.

Microsoft's involvement in the AI project is part of its wider expansion in AI infrastructure, though details about the tool are still being finalized. The AFP's joint operations with Colombian officials to dismantle cocaine production facilities further demonstrate its global approach to tackling criminal organizations at their roots, according to the Guardian. As Australia moves toward stricter social media oversight, the AFP's AI project and its international collaborations reflect a comprehensive strategy to protect at-risk individuals in an increasingly digital world, the Outpost concluded.