Helena, Montana – Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation are urging families to remain alert online as officials mark Internet Crimes Against Children Prevention Month.
The warning comes as investigators continue to see large numbers of reports involving the online exploitation of children and growing concerns about emerging technologies that can be used by predators.
State officials say protecting children in the digital age requires a combination of law enforcement action, parental awareness, and education aimed at helping young people recognize potential dangers before they become victims.
“As technology continues to evolve, protecting children from online predators has never been more important,” Attorney General Knudsen said. “At the Montana Department of Justice, we will continue to do everything we can to investigate these crimes, hold predators accountable, and keep kids safe from sexual exploitation. Please, do your part and talk to your kids about the dangers lurking online.”
Thousands Of Reports Received In Montana
The Montana Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works closely with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and receives cyber tips involving suspected online child exploitation.
The task force is responsible for investigating those reports and coordinating with prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against offenders who use the internet or technology to exploit children.
Officials reported that from June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026, the Division of Criminal Investigation received 3,542 cyber tips involving child sexual abuse material.
The problem extends far beyond Montana.
Nationally, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received 21.3 million CyberTipline reports during 2025. Authorities also noted a dramatic increase in several categories of online crimes targeting children.
According to the data, reports involving online enticement increased by 158 percent compared to 2024, while reports involving child sex trafficking rose by 323 percent during the same period.
Those numbers underscore the growing challenge facing investigators and families across the country.
Officials Urge Parents To Take Precautions
To help reduce risks, Attorney General Knudsen encouraged parents to carefully consider what they share online about their children.
Officials advised parents to think carefully before posting photographs of children on public social media accounts because images can be copied, saved, altered, and misused without a family’s knowledge.
The Department of Justice also recommends keeping social media accounts private whenever possible, avoiding the sharing of personal details or location information, and teaching children to be cautious when interacting with strangers online.
Parents are encouraged to discuss warning signs with children, including situations where someone online attempts to build trust quickly through frequent messages, compliments, gifts, or unusually personal conversations.
Authorities stressed that predators often pretend to be someone else, including children of a similar age, in order to gain a victim’s confidence.
AI And Sextortion Create New Challenges
Officials highlighted a recent Montana case that demonstrated how modern technology can be used in disturbing ways.
Last year, prosecutors charged a Carter County man, Shy Herbert McCutchan, with three felony counts related to child sexual abuse material. Investigators alleged that he took photographs of a child from the parents’ public social media account and then used artificial intelligence technology to manipulate the images and create illegal content.
In response to concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence, House Bill 82 was approved during the 2025 legislative session and signed into law. Supported by Attorney General Knudsen, the law allows prosecutors to pursue cases involving predators who digitally alter images using artificial intelligence for criminal purposes.
Another growing threat identified by officials is sextortion.
In these cases, offenders convince victims to send explicit images and then use those images to threaten, blackmail, or pressure victims into sending money or complying with additional demands.
The Montana Department of Justice has increased efforts to address the issue. During the 2023 legislative session, Attorney General Knudsen successfully advocated for funding for an additional investigator dedicated to internet crimes against children.
Officials also continue conducting educational presentations across Montana. The state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force commander regularly travels throughout the state to meet with students, parents, and community members to provide safety information and raise awareness about online threats.
As Internet Crimes Against Children Prevention Month continues, authorities are encouraging parents to stay engaged with their children’s online activities, maintain open communication, and report suspected exploitation. Officials say awareness remains one of the strongest tools available in protecting children from predators who increasingly use technology to target victims.
