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The family of a Belgian tourist who went missing while on holiday in Morocco has launched a website using artificial intelligence (AI) to help find him.
The AI-powered website uses facial recognition technology to analyze photos uploaded by users, which were taken in the same area where Dries De Graeve, 29, was last seen—Taghazout, a surf village near Agadir. The goal is to locate the missing tourist.
According to his family, Dries, from Ghent, Belgium, was traveling with two friends when he disappeared. He was last seen on the night of November 18 to 19, wearing a white T-shirt and black pants. He is approximately 1.85 meters tall, with short black curly hair and light brown eyes. His mobile phone last connected to the network on November 20.
To aid in the search, Dries' cousin, ethical hacker Inti De Ceuckelaire, created the website where people can upload photos. Using AI, the system scans all faces in the photos to see if Dries appears by chance. User privacy is protected, with notifications sent only if a photo of Dries is detected. Users are then asked to contact the family.
The family has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover search and repatriation costs.
«The investigation is being conducted by the police in Morocco, but there is cooperation to find the boy», said the Belgian public prosecutor’s office in late November. «The Missing Persons Unit is aware and in contact with the Moroccan police via the federal police liaison officer. The unit keeps the family informed and is ready to assist if Morocco has any questions or requests to conduct an investigation here», it concluded.
