Kataka: Police have arrested a young man in Kataka city for allegedly blackmailing a woman by creating morphed images of her using artificial intelligence (AI) and threatening to circulate them on social media.

The accused, a resident of the Bidanasi police station area, was arrested following a complaint lodged by the woman's family.

According to police, the accused was a friend of the woman's brother and frequently visited their home. During this period, he allegedly developed one-sided feelings for the woman. However, when she rejected his advances, he allegedly began harassing and blackmailing her.

Investigators said the accused allegedly used AI tools to manipulate the woman's photographs and threatened to make the morphed images viral on social media unless she agreed to be in a relationship with him.

He also allegedly intercepted the woman on her way to tuition classes on several occasions and harassed her, police said.

After repeated incidents of harassment, the woman's family approached the police, following which a case was registered and an investigation was launched. The accused was subsequently arrested from the Bidanasi area.

Police said the accused is reportedly engaged in trading as his profession. Further investigation is underway to determine the extent of the alleged misuse of AI technology and whether any objectionable content was circulated online.

The case has once again highlighted growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence for cyber harassment and image manipulation, with police urging people to report such offences promptly.