Britain is set to become the first nation to implement legislation targeting AI tools that generate images of sexual abuse, as announced by the government late Saturday. The new law will render it illegal to create, possess, or distribute AI technologies specifically designed to produce sexualized images of minors, with violations carrying a potential prison sentence of up to five years, as stated by Interior Minister Yvette Cooper. Additionally, the possession of AI-generated “paedophile manuals,” which instruct individuals on how to exploit AI for the sexual abuse of children, will also be prohibited, with offenders facing up to three years in prison. Minister Cooper emphasized the alarming nature of this issue, noting the increasing prevalence of online child sexual abuse material and the grooming of minors. She highlighted that AI is exacerbating these problems, facilitating the manipulation of children’s images and enabling perpetrators to exploit and blackmail young individuals into further acts of abuse.
AI technologies are being exploited to create images of child sexual abuse by altering actual photographs of children to appear nude or by superimposing the faces of different children onto pre-existing images, according to government statements. Additionally, the forthcoming legislation will make it illegal for individuals who operate websites intended for the exchange of abhorrent child sexual abuse material or guidance on child grooming, with penalties reaching up to ten years of imprisonment. These provisions are set to be included in the Crime and Policing Bill when it is presented to parliament.
