10/22/2026
This is happening in OUR communities ... and we cannot afford to ignore it.
We appreciate the Marshall County District Attorney's Office for bringing attention to this disturbing reality. AI is evolving faster than many parents, educators, and students can keep up with, and the consequences can be devastating.
Technology companies absolutely must be held accountable for the platforms and tools that make this type of exploitation possible. Stronger safeguards, responsible technology development, and meaningful accountability are essential.
But we cannot afford to wait ...
At Family Services of North Alabama, we're already on the frontlines through our iSafety Program, providing education and prevention services to students and parents throughout Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, and Marshall Counties.
Our goal isn't simply to warn young people about the dangers of the internet. It's to equip them with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to navigate an increasingly complicated digital world safely and responsibly.
That includes conversations about artificial intelligence, online exploitation, digital consent, cyberbullying, and the very real consequences of using technology to harm others.
We want students to understand that something doesn't have to be real to cause real harm. An AI-generated image may be fake, but the humiliation, emotional trauma, and damage to a child's reputation are anything but.
We want parents to understand that protecting children online requires more than monitoring their devices. It requires education, communication, awareness, and ongoing conversations.
Prevention isn't just about responding when something terrible happens. It's about doing everything we can to keep it from happening in the first place.
We're grateful for the Marshall County District Attorney's Office and its commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable.
While law enforcement works to address these crimes, FSNA will continue working in classrooms and communities to help prevent them.
Protecting children in the digital age is everyone's responsibility.
🚨 PARENTS: THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN MARSHALL COUNTY.
Over the past month, our office has received several cases involving middle and high school students across Marshall County school systems using artificial intelligence (AI) to create n**e images of their classmates. This is disturbing, it is harmful, and it is a serious crime.
With today's technology, an ordinary photograph of a child can be manipulated using AI to create a realistic n**e or sexually explicit image. What may take only seconds to create can cause lasting humiliation, trauma, and harm to the child depicted.
A child should not have to fear that an innocent photograph posted online or shared with friends will be turned into a sexually explicit image and circulated throughout their school.
We want students and parents to understand that just because an image is AI-generated does NOT mean it is legal. Creating, possessing, or distributing AI-generated child sexual abuse material can result in serious felony charges, substantial prison sentences, and sex-offender registration requirements.
🚨 PARENTS: PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE DOING ON THEIR DEVICES.
In cases investigated here in Marshall County, we have identified several AI platforms and websites being used to generate these images. If you have questions about specific websites or apps used, please contact our office at [email protected].
We strongly encourage parents to familiarize themselves with the various AI platforms available, check the apps and websites their children are accessing, and have serious conversations about the legal and moral consequences of misusing AI.
🚨 STUDENTS: THIS IS NOT A JOKE.
Creating a n**e image of a classmate is not a harmless prank. Sharing those images with friends, posting them online, or circulating them in group chats can compound both the harm to the victim and the legal consequences.
If you become aware of these images involving a minor, report the matter to law enforcement or school officials. Do not share or circulate the images. Our office will not tolerate the production of child sexual abuse material, whether the images are real or generated by AI. We will aggressively prosecute these violations.
