Dozens have been detained on suspicion of involvement in disseminating AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Europol reported on Friday.
The arrests targeted 25 individuals, believed to be part of an organised crime group, and were carried out in a series of coordinated raids this week.
The ring leader, a Danish citizen apprehended in November, allegedly managed an online platform selling access to the illicit material.
The operation, dubbed Operation Cumberland and spearheaded by Danish authorities, has so far identified 273 suspects across 19 countries, conducted searches at 33 residences, and seized 173 items.
The international effort is supported by Europol and the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT), with additional arrests anticipated.
Countries involved include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, and New Zealand. In the UK, various police forces such as the Metropolitan Police, Kent Police, West Mercia Police, and others are part of the initiative.
Europol highlighted the growing challenge posed by AI in the production of CSAM.
Offenders increasingly exploit AI technologies to create or modify images, complicating efforts to protect real victims and identify the material as synthetic.
Despite the absence of direct victims in AI-generated content, such material still perpetuates the sexualisation and objectification of children, posing new and significant challenges for law enforcement.
