First-in-the-world: UK set to criminalize AI child abuse tools
What's the story
The United Kingdom is set to become the first country to legislate against artificial intelligence (AI) tools used for generating sexual abuse images of children. Interior Minister Yvette Cooper announced that owning, creating, or distributing AI tools designed for generating sexualized images of children will be made illegal. Offenders could face up to five years in prison.
Additional measures
AI 'pedophile manuals' also to be criminalized
Along with the aforementioned legislation, the possession of AI "pedophile manuals" will also be made a crime. These manuals teach users how to use AI to abuse children. The crime could lead to a prison sentence of up to three years. Cooper emphasized the importance of these laws, saying, "We know that sick predators' activities online often lead to them carrying out the most horrific abuse in person."
Tech misuse
Legislation targets misuse of AI
As technology progresses, the new laws seek to protect children from online and offline sexual abuse. The government noted that AI tools are being abused to create child sexual abuse pictures by "nudeifying" real-life pictures or altering existing photos with the faces of children. This new law will penalize those running websites to share child sexual abuse content or provide grooming advice with up to 10 years in prison.
Stats
IWF reports worrying figures
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has warned that a rising number of AI-made sexual abuse images of children are being produced. Over a 30-day period last year, IWF analysts found 3,512 such images on a single dark web site. It also found that the number of the most serious category of pictures rose by 10% in a year.