In this photo illustration, a man types on an illuminated computer keyboard typically favored by computer coders. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
(NewsNation) — A man from the United Kingdom who was convicted of making more than 1,000 “indecent images” of children has been banned from using any AI creation tools for the next five years without police permission, according to local media reports.
The Guardian called this one of the “first known cases of its kind.”
Along with not being allowed to use artificial intelligence tools, Anthony Dover, 48, was also given a community order and a £200 fine, the publication writes.
Under the ban, Dover is prohibited from using text-to-image generators, and “nudifying” websites used to make explicit “deepfakes,” per the Guardian. He also cannot use Stable Diffusion software, which the news outlet reports has been used by pedophiles to create hyper-realistic child sexual abuse material.
It is unclear whether Dover himself used artificial intelligence in the creation of his images.
“Where we perceive there is an ongoing risk to children’s safety, we will ask the court to impose conditions, which may involve prohibiting use of certain technology,” a Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said in a statement to The Guardian.
New UK law on deepfakes
This comes as the United Kingdom’s government announced it aims to criminalize the creation of sexually explicit “deepfake” images for those 18 and older. (The making and sharing of these images is already illegal when it comes to children.)
With the new legislation, those who create these “horrific images without consent” could face a criminal record and an “unlimited fine,” a news release said. If the image is shared, offenders could be sent to jail, the release added.
“The creation of deepfake sexual images is despicable and completely unacceptable irrespective of whether the image is shared. It is another example of ways in which certain people seek to degrade and dehumanise others — especially women,” UK Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris, said in a statement. “And it has the capacity to cause catastrophic consequences if the material is shared more widely. This government will not tolerate it. This new offense sends a crystal clear message that making this material is immoral, often misogynistic, and a crime.”
The new offense is set to be introduced in England and Wales through an amendment in the Criminal Justice Bill currently being considered in parliament. Meanwhile, the devolved governments of Scotland and Northern Ireland are responsible for passing the legislation in their countries, CNN writes. A spokesperson for Northern Ireland’s justice department told the news outlet it is “currently exploring options available for Northern Ireland.” Scotland’s Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment by CNN.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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