San Antonio Man Arrested After Snapchat CyberTip

Facial recognition technology helped identify the 20-year-old suspect in a child exploitation investigation.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A 20-year-old San Antonio man named Luis Ramiro Salinas has been arrested following an investigation that began with a CyberTip report submitted by Snapchat. Police say Salinas is accused of possessing illegal visual material involving a child, a third-degree felony under Texas law.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing role of technology, including facial recognition and social media platforms, in assisting law enforcement with identifying and apprehending suspects in child exploitation cases. It also raises ongoing debates around privacy, civil liberties, and the appropriate use of such technologies.

The details

According to the police affidavit, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip report from Snapchat on November 30, 2023, flagging a suspect user account that had allegedly uploaded multiple files and made concerning statements on the platform. Investigators reviewed the material and determined that at least one file met the legal definition of child pornography under Texas law. Snapchat also provided a 'selfie'-style video connected to the account, which an analyst used facial recognition technology to identify as Salinas based on a matching Texas driver's license photo and social media content.

  • On November 30, 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip report from Snapchat.
  • Police conducted surveillance at an address on Ivanhoe Street, where they observed a vehicle registered to Salinas.

The players

Luis Ramiro Salinas

A 20-year-old San Antonio resident who has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony under Texas law.

Snapchat

A social media platform that submitted a CyberTip report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding concerning content and statements on one of its user accounts.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

A nonprofit organization that received the CyberTip report from Snapchat and provided information to law enforcement to assist with the investigation.

Texas Office of the Attorney General

An analyst from this office used a law enforcement facial recognition database to identify the individual in the 'selfie'-style video provided by Snapchat as Luis Ramiro Salinas.

San Antonio Police Department (SAPD)

The law enforcement agency that conducted the investigation, including surveillance, that led to the arrest of Luis Ramiro Salinas.

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What they’re saying

“This case highlights the growing role of technology, including facial recognition and social media platforms, in assisting law enforcement with identifying and apprehending suspects in child exploitation cases.”

— Sgt. Steve O'Neal, Assigned to the iChild Exploitation Unit, San Antonio Police Department (kens5.com)

What’s next

Salinas will face charges of possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony under Texas law. The case will proceed through the criminal justice system, with the judge determining whether to grant bail or keep Salinas in custody during the legal proceedings.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, technology companies, and nonprofit organizations in combating child exploitation. It also highlights the ongoing debate around the appropriate use of facial recognition and other surveillance technologies, and the need to balance public safety with individual privacy rights.