Andre Curry, 21, has generated intense internet backlash after he posted the photo in July.
Last week, the shocking photo appeared on websites like TheDirty.com and The Smoking Gun.
In the image, the tape holds the girl’s arms and legs together at the wrists and ankles, with another large piece of tape across her mouth.
Je’Vanna Cobbins, a friend of Curry’s, told The Smoking Gun that he was just “playing around”, and would “never do anything to harm anyone”.
She said: “[He was] being playful with his child. People play with their child differently.”
The Chicago Police Department said they were tipped off to the photo and their special investigations unit is looking into it.
A police spokesman said: “It’s an ongoing investigation.”
Andre Curry has not commented on the issue.
He has since taken the photo off Facebook, but as the image has spread on the internet, angry users have targeted his page.
One commenter called Andre Curry a “nasty child abuser”.
Another commenter said: “I hope you fall down the stairs and land on a bunch of bullets. Hate hate hate hate!”
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