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UK Becomes First to Criminalize AI-Generated Child Abuse Images

Britain has introduced groundbreaking laws to criminalize AI tools used to create sexual abuse images of children, marking a significant step in child protection.

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UK Becomes First to Criminalize AI-Generated Child Abuse Images

Britain is set to become the first country to introduce laws against AI tools used to create sexual abuse images of children. The government made the announcement on Saturday.

New Laws and Penalties

To begin with, the new laws will make it illegal to create, possess, or distribute AI tools that generate sexualized images of children. Offenders could face up to five years in prison. Furthermore, possessing AI “paedophile manuals,” which teach people how to use AI for child abuse, will be a criminal offense. Those found guilty could face up to three years in prison.

Minister’s Statement

Interior Minister Yvette Cooper stated, “We know that sick predators’ activities online often lead to them carrying out the most horrific abuse in person.” She added that these new laws aim to protect children both online and offline, emphasizing the importance of tackling child sexual abuse in all forms.

Protection Against AI-Generated Abuse

In addition, the UK government’s statement highlights that AI tools are being used to alter real-life images of children or “stitch” children’s faces onto existing images. These new laws are specifically designed to shield children from the growing threat posed by such AI-generated abuse.

Targeting Predators and Websites

Moreover, the laws will criminalize individuals who run websites for paedophiles to share abuse content or advice on grooming children. This crime could result in up to ten years in prison.

Rising Threat of AI-Generated Abuse Images

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has raised alarms about the increasing number of AI-generated child abuse images. For instance, in just 30 days in 2024, IWF analysts discovered 3,512 such images on one dark web site. In addition, the number of the most serious images has risen by 10 percent over the past year.