A 17-year-old youth is facing multiple charges following a Cobourg Police Service investigation into the alleged non-consensual distribution of intimate images and videos involving minors.
Police say the investigation began on June 1 after officers received information that videos depicting youths engaged in sexual activity were being distributed online.
The Cobourg Police Service Criminal Investigation Bureau led the investigation, conducting multiple interviews and reviewing digital evidence.
On July 3, officers arrested a 17-year-old youth and laid charges of voyeurism, distributing a voyeuristic recording, making child sexual abuse material, distributing child sexual abuse material, distributing intimate images, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
The accused was released on an undertaking under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. The youth cannot be identified under the provisions of the Act.
Cobourg Police are reminding parents and young people that creating, sharing, possessing or accessing child sexual abuse material is a serious criminal offence. The service notes that this can include some AI-generated or digitally manipulated images.
Police say anyone who encounters this type of material should not save or redistribute it and should instead report it to police immediately.
Youth under 18 who are concerned that intimate images of themselves are being shared online can access confidential support through NeedHelpNow.ca. Suspected online sexual exploitation of children can also be reported through Cybertip.ca, Canada’s national reporting tip line.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
