UK man gets 18 years in prison for using AI to generate CSAM

A UK man who used AI to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. . Hugh Nelson, 27, created the images using photographs of real children, which were then manipulated by AI. Nelson was convicted of 16 counts of child sexual abuse in August after a lengthy police investigation. This was the first prosecution of its kind in the UK.

Nelson used modeling software called Daz 3D to fabricate the sickening images. The program has a set of artificial intelligence tools, which it used to transform normal photographs of children into CSAM. Greater Manchester Police said it sold these images online and in several cases was even commissioned to create specific CSAM elements using photographs of real children. Police say Nelson made about $6,500 selling images online.

He was caught trying to sell images to an undercover police officer in a chat room. “I’ve beaten, suffocated, hanged, drowned, decapitated, necro, beast, and the list goes on,” Nelson told the police officer to entice a sale. This is clear from the transcript of a conversation provided by the prosecution.

It’s worth noting that Daz 3D does not create deepfakes, in which a face is swapped for another body. Nelson created lifelike 3D renders by feeding the photos to the AI ​​algorithm.

In handing down the sentence, the judge called the images “heartbreaking and disgusting” and specifically addressed Nelson, saying “there appears to be no limit to the depths of depravity exhibited in the images you were willing to create and display to others.” ”. He also said it was “impossible to know” whether the children had been abused as a result of the images. Police searches of Nelson’s devices found a series of text messages in which he encouraged people to sexually abuse children under 13. These suspects and potential victims are allegedly located all over the world, including the United States.

Of course, the United States is not immune to this horrible trend. a soldier was for allegedly using AI to generate CSAM. A Wisconsin man faces 70 years in prison for allegedly which represents CSAM. The world’s top AI companies to help stop the use of this type of software to generate child sexual abuse material.