Kathmandu: The United Kingdom is set to become the first country to enact legislation targeting artificial intelligence tools used to create sexualized images of children. The move aims to tackle a growing issue, which Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned is on the rise.
The government announced on Saturday that it will criminalize the possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools that generate abusive images. Violators could face up to five years in prison. These AI-generated images are often created by digitally altering real photos of children or by superimposing their faces onto existing explicit material, according to government officials.
Additionally, possessing AI-generated “paedophile manuals” that provide instructions on using AI for child exploitation will be a criminal offense, carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
The new laws will also target individuals who operate online platforms facilitating the sharing of child abuse content or advice on grooming, with offenders facing up to 10 years in prison.
“This is a deeply disturbing trend,” Cooper told Sky News on Sunday. “The spread of online child sexual abuse material is accelerating, and AI is now amplifying the problem.”
She explained that AI tools are making it easier for offenders to manipulate images of children, using them for extortion and further exploitation. “It’s one of the most appalling crimes,” she added. “No other country has introduced such measures yet, but I hope they will follow suit.”
Cooper also cited findings from a recent inquiry, revealing that approximately 500,000 children in the UK experience some form of abuse annually, with the online aspect becoming increasingly prevalent.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a UK-based non-profit dedicated to combating online abuse, has raised alarms about the growing volume of AI-generated child abuse content. In a 30-day period in 2024, IWF analysts identified 3,512 AI-generated child abuse images on a single dark web platform. The number of the most severe cases also increased by 10% within a year, the organization reported.
Source: AFP