Monday, February 3, 2025 - The United Kingdom is set to become the first country to introduce laws targeting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate s3xual abuse images, the government announced on Saturday.
The groundbreaking legislation aims to criminalize the
possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools designed to produce
s3xualized images of children, with offenders facing up to five years in
prison.
The proposed laws will also make it illegal to possess
AI-generated "paedophile manuals" that teach individuals how to
exploit AI for child s3xual abuse, carrying penalties of up to three years in
prison, according to interior minister Yvette Cooper.
In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Cooper described
the issue as a “real disturbing phenomenon” and highlighted the growing threat
posed by AI. “Online child s3xual abuse material is increasing, and AI is
amplifying the problem,” she said. “These tools are being used to groom
children, manipulate their images, and even blackmail them into further abuse.
It’s just the most vile of crimes.”
The new legislation will also target AI models specifically
used for child abuse and criminalize predators who operate websites that
facilitate the sharing of s3xual abuse content or provide advice on grooming
children. Those running such platforms could face up to ten years in prison.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which monitors online
child exploitation, has raised alarms about the rising use of AI in producing
child s3xual abuse images. Over 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 serious category of images increased by 10 percent
within a year, the organization reported.
Cooper cited findings from a recent inquiry indicating that
approximately 500,000 children across the UK experience some form of abuse
annually, with a growing proportion occurring online. The new measures will be
included in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill set to be presented in
Parliament.
"This is an international issue, but the UK is leading
the way," Cooper said, urging other countries to follow suit. The
government has emphasized the urgency of addressing the misuse of AI to combat
the escalating threat to children.
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