British lawmakers are considering new laws to crack down on AI tools that are being used for child sexual abuse, such as creating explicit images. This would make it the first country to enact such legislation.
It is a crime in England and Wales to possess, take, make, show, or distribute explicit images of children. The new offenses that UK lawmakers are considering will target criminals' use of AI tools to "nudeify" real-life images of young individuals.
Criminals are Using AI Tools for Child Sexual Abuse
The development comes after online criminals have been found to be increasingly making use of AI in order to create child sex abuse material. The reports of these incidents have increased by nearly five-fold in 2024 alone with the rapid advancement of such technology.
UK Interior Minister Yvette Cooper spoke at the House of Commons in London and said, "We know that sick predators' activities online often lead to them carrying out the most horrific abuse in person." She said it is important for them to address child sexual abuse online as well as in real life to protect people from new and emerging crimes, according to CNN.
Lawmakers also argued that predators typically take advantage of advanced AI tools in order to keep themselves anonymous. They are then able to blackmail children using fake images that they generate to lead them into further abuse.
The new criminal offenses that the UK is considering include the possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools that were designed to create child sexual abuse material. It also includes the possession of so-called AI "pedophile manuals" that have instructions on how criminals can use such technology for their own benefit.
Consequences of Criminal Offenses
Individuals who are found to be guilty of the first batch of offenses will face up to five years of imprisonment. On the other hand, the second group of offenses could jail individuals who are found guilty for up to three years, according to The Guardian.
Additionally, lawmakers are discussing a stringent new law that targets individuals who are responsible for running or moderating websites that share child sexual abuse images or give out advice to other offenders in carrying out such acts.
The Border Force will also be given extra powers that will let the British government agency compel anyone that it suspects of posing a sexual risk to children to provide access to their digital devices so that they can be inspected.
A lot of child abusers have been taking advantage of the benefits that AI tools provide in order to deploy new ways to harass their victims. On top of the victims' bodies, their voices have also been used similarly for various purposes, according to BBC.
