Latest news with #Bullington
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man facing multiple felonies for AI-generated illicit images of underage girls: police
The Brief Jack Bullington, 19, is facing multiple felonies Bullington allegedly posted AI-generated illicit images of female juveniles on social media Police say they've seen an increase in this type of crime in recent years AUSTIN, Texas - Austin Police have arrested a man who they say posted AI-generated illicit photos of female juveniles on X. Police said they've seen an increase in this type of crime in recent years. What we know Austin Police said 19-year-old Jack Bullington paid someone overseas to alter photos of teen girls, younger than 18, in a pornographic manner. Bullington then posted them on X. Austin Police have identified 11 victims in this case, many of which Bullington apparently knew. Court records revealed Bullington had nearly 100 altered images. Police said he's been arrested before for harmful display to a minor and harassment. Bullington faces 10 charges of possession and promotion of lewd visual material depicting a child, one charge of possession of child porn, and one charge of promotion of child porn. Bullington has bonded out of jail under the conditions he have no social media, continue therapy, take meds, and have no contact with minors. Dig deeper With artificial intelligence, anyone can manipulate a photo into something it's not. "I would say that the bounds of a criminal mind are endless, so any picture that somebody can get off of social media, they can alter in AI," APD Child Exploitation Unit Sergeant Russell Weirich said. "We do have tools that we use to identify them," Sgt. Weirich said, "It is very difficult and it's getting increasingly difficult to tell, but the victims are what really tell the tale, because they can tell you exactly where they were and when." "Many widely available generative AI tools can be weaponized to harm children," National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Jennifer Newman said. Newman said a service through NCMEC called 'Take it Down' helps remove nude or sexually exploitative imagery online. "Perhaps your picture that you sent to someone is being threatened to be posted, maybe a generative AI photo of you is posted, even if you're unsure whether that image has been shared, we want to help and try to remove it, and this service can help," Newman said. Newman said this is an increasingly common, disturbing treat. "In 2024 alone, NCMEC saw a 1300% increase in cyber tip line reports that involve generative AI technology, going from 4,700 reports in 2023 to over 67,000 reports last year," Newman said. In 2023, lawmakers amended the Texas Child Porn Possession Law to include AI-modified images. Sergeant Weirich said it has been helpful. "Because there was a lot of this stuff going on that wasn't technically illegal. It was really in poor taste and it was terrible for the victims, but we weren't able to do a whole lot," Sgt. Weirich said. "We dealt with it the best we could until now we're really starting to get traction on some of this legislation that we've been able to use and it really helps our victims and gives them some respite it what they're able to do and start healing and getting over that trauma." The Source Information in this report comes from reporting/interviews by FOX 7 Austin's CrimeWatch reporter Meredith Aldis.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roanoke restaurants speak out on city council's proposed meals tax increase
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Roanoke City Council is still coming up with ideas to close a multi-million-dollar gap to meet the city's budget for the year. One of the ideas proposed by financial advisors was a meals tax increase. City leaders have floated a 1.5 percent increase on the local meals tax, which would put it at seven percent total in the city of Roanoke. It estimates that it would generate about $6 million in revenue, but local restaurants would rather see the rate left alone. RELATED STORY | Roanoke restaurants share concerns over proposed meals tax increase 'We already had to deal with COVID not too long ago,' Josh Patsel, the kitchen manager at Awful Arthur's Seafood Company, said. 'Another blow like this, even if it sounds like it's small, but in the long-term, we're probably looking at probably doing a little bit of damage around here.' Experienced restaurant owners have lived through meals tax increases in the past, but some are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic five years later. They say now would not be a good time to take another hit. 'Some people may look at it as only one percent or 1.5 percent increase,' Matt Bullington, the owner of Texas Tavern, said. 'The reality is that is a percent or percent-and-a-half that you really can't raise your own prices when your costs go up, which they do, and they have been.' Bullington said the restaurant industry already collects the same sales tax as other businesses, and meals taxes are added on top of that. RELATED STORY | Budget recommendations made to Roanoke City Council In the end, restaurants' meals are taxed twice as much as other goods and services. He said since the city usually increases the meals tax to make up budget shortfalls, maybe this time it can look somewhere else. 'I have nothing against people that cut hair or change oil, but if you get your haircut, there's no tax that gets paid on it, but if you come buy a hot dog, there is,' Bullington said. 'Why is that any different?' WFXR reached out to the city for a response, but has not received one at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
