The UK will soon introduce laws that make it illegal to create, possess, or distribute AI tools used to generate child abuse images. This move makes the UK the first country to take such action.
Severe penalties for creating AI-generated abuse material
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that those involved in creating or possessing AI tools for child exploitation will face up to five years in prison. Possessing AI-generated “paedophile manuals,” which guide individuals on using AI for abuse, will result in a three-year prison sentence.
Cooper highlighted the growing threat, noting that online child sexual abuse material and online grooming are becoming more common. She explained that AI tools are making it easier for offenders to manipulate images of children, leading to further abuse and blackmail.
“This is a deeply troubling development,” Cooper said. “AI is helping exploiters harm children. We must act quickly to stop it.”
Targeting AI models and online platforms
The new law will also target specific AI models used to create abusive material. Cooper hopes other countries will follow the UK’s lead.
AI tools have been used to alter real photos of children or superimpose faces onto other images. The law will also criminalise websites that allow the sharing of child abuse content or offer grooming advice. Offenders could face up to ten years in prison.
A recent inquiry revealed that 500,000 children in the UK experience abuse each year. Online abuse is a growing concern.
These measures will be part of the Crime and Policing Bill when it is introduced in Parliament.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported a rise in AI-generated child abuse images. In just 30 days in 2024, IWF analysts found 3,512 such images on a single dark web site. The most serious category of abuse images rose by 10% over the previous year.
