By The Daily Caller (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-22 21:34:02 | Updated at 2025-01-26 07:26:35
3 days ago
January 22, 2025 3:38 PM ET
We hear a lot about the dangers of AI. It’s coming for our jobs. It’s abused by scammers and pervs. Worst of all, it can be a powerful tool for censorship. But there are some upsides: vigilantes have figured out how to use AI to hunt pedophiles in their community.
The Daily Caller’s new documentary, “Pedo Hunters,” follows two of these vigilantes in ride alongs as they trap their “prey.” And they give an inside look into how they use AI to do it.
“Pedo Hunters” is available exclusively to Daily Caller subscribers. Catch a first glimpse below.
First, the Daily Caller uncovered the true cost of the Defund the Police movement in “Lawless.” Then, “Cleaning Up Kamala” exposed how a Democratic political machine turned the most unlikable candidate in history into your joyful, fun aunt. Now, with “Pedo Hunters,” the Daily Caller’s investigative team takes a ride with Josh and Jay as they hunt for pedophiles across the country.
Josh originally wanted to be a teacher, but when he sat down in a college course next to a man he says sexually assaulted his step-daughter — who the system let walk free — he knew a career change was in order. He decided to take the law into his own hands.
Jay says he experienced sexual assault as a child himself. But when he confronted his alleged abuser as an adult, things quickly turned ugly.
Both men are united in their love for their children and being “tired of waiting for the police.” In 2021, they decided to form DAP: “Dad’s Against Predators.” Inspired by a system that failed them, they now make hunting would-be pedos a full-time job, recording their “hunts” and posting them on YouTube.
You’ve likely seen their videos on YouTube, which have racked up millions of views. They create “decoy profiles” on dating where they tell men they’re underage, and if the man still doesn’t care, they set a meeting time at a public location like Target or CVS. Once their prey arrives to meet what they believe is a 13 year old girl or boy, things often turn ugly. Hostile confrontations can quickly turn violent. (RELATED: Sign up for Daily Caller Newsletter, ‘Cultured’)
This is the side they show the world. What you don’t see is how the sausage is made. And like a lot of things these days, that process depends on AI.
Josh demonstrates how creates a younger version of himself to send photos to would-be pedophiles.
“We use AI apps and make ’em look younger,” Josh explained. “We’ve caught people all the way from pretending to be nine years old because the technology nowadays can do wonders . . . really shows you the kind of magic [of AI].”
After taking a regular old selfie, he transforms himself into the perfect bait for a pedophile.
“We’re gonna make my face a little smaller . . . Beards, we’re gonna take that down to shaved.” He digitally alters his facial expression and tweaks the lighting and voila: “That’s a 15 year old boy, right?”
“There’s a lot of times these predators will be obviously interested off the bat,” Josh explains. But some say they need “proof, because this could be a set up.”
AI provides that proof and draws them into the open. Josh takes a photo holding up a note with his profile’s name on it and then alters it with AI, sending whatever specific real-time poses the predator requests for proof. “I’m real, I match my pictures,” he explains. And most usually buy it.
The set up is even more convincing because it uses a real person, but critically, doesn’t put a real child in jeopardy by sharing his or her likeness. Josh can even use similar technology to alter his voice to talk to a would-be pedophile on the phone to be more convincing. The hunter always makes his mark.
Join the Daily Caller for a wild ride as we uncover what it’s really like to be a Pedo Hunter.
The Daily Caller’s documentary productions are made possible by our faithful Patriots members, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without them. To watch “Pedo Hunters” and help support future investigative documentaries, please consider subscribing.
