Child psychiatrist sentenced to 40 years for using AI to create child porn

A North Carolina child psychiatrist was sentenced to 40 years in prison followed by 30 years of supervised release after he was convicted of producing, transporting and possessing child pornography, at least some of which he generated through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). 

David Tatum, 41, of Charlotte, will also be forced to pay around $100,000 or more in fines, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina said last week. 

"As a child psychiatrist, Tatum knew the damaging, long-lasting impact sexual exploitation has on the wellbeing of victimized children. Regardless, he engaged in the depraved practice of using secret recordings of his victims to create illicit images and videos of them," U.S. Attorney Dena King said. 

FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt said: "It is horrific to believe anyone would secretly record children undressing and showering for their own sexual gratification. And when the evidence proves that person is a doctor entrusted to help children through difficult mental health situations, it is inconceivable."

Around July 2016, Tatum secretly recorded a minor while the child was undressing and showering, per court documents. Tatum also made similar surreptitious recordings of others, including at least one of his own patients, per court records. 

Tatum also used AI to make clothed pictures of minors into child pornography, including a picture from a school dance and another from the first day of school, per evidence presented at trial. 

Tatum was convicted in May.

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