Hugh Nelson, a 27-year-old man from Bolton, UK was sentenced to 18 years in prison with an additional six years on extended license (parole) for using AI technology to create child sexual abuse images.

The man altered images of actual children engaged in normal, innocent activities to create explicit images and to encourage the rape of children via the internet.

According to the source:

The police investigation found that Nelson, of Egerton, Bolton, frequented encrypted internet chatrooms where he would exchange and sell computer-generated images and discuss child sexual abuse with others.

Through these online chatrooms Nelson accepted requests from individuals who wanted him to create explicit images depicting children being harmed both sexually and physically, which he either sold in exchange for money or shared to others for free. Some of these computer-generated images requested used images of real children.

Through his online discussions with other like-minded individuals, Nelson also exchanged messages with the intention of encouraging adults to inflict horrifying sexual abuse on young children, all for his own sexual gratification.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/man-who-used-ai-technology-create-child-sexual-abuse-images-jailed (Oct. 28, 2024).

Commentary

When AI is asked about using AI to create child pornography, this is the answer provided:

Using AI to create child pornography is a deeply disturbing and reprehensible act. It exploits technology in the worst possible way, causing immense harm to real children and perpetuating abuse. The legal consequences are severe, as they should be, to deter such heinous behavior. It's crucial to use technology responsibly and ethically, ensuring it benefits society rather than causing harm. Microsoft Copilot. (2024). Personal communication.

The reply hits on an important point. Child pornography "perpetuates child abuse".  Some people may think that manipulating a normal image of a child into child pornography does not "harm" a child. That point of view is greatly mistaken.

First, AI-generated child pornography creates a demand for more child pornography, which leads to the exploitation and abuse of more children in real life. In the above source, the perpetrators were paid for their images they created.

Second, AI-generated child pornography normalizes and reinforces harmful behaviors and attitudes among those who consume it, making them more likely to commit abuse themselves. In the above matter, the perpetrator joined chatrooms where adults were encouraged to inflict sexual abuse on actual children.

The final takeaway is that the distribution of child pornography, created by AI or not, causes ongoing harm to the victims, because the wrong is repeatedly shared and viewed potentially forever.