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Hugh Nelson Jailed for 18 Years in Landmark UK Case for Creating AI Child Abuse Images from Real Photos

Oct 28, 2024, 11:09 AM

Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on the spread of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery. In the UK, Hugh Nelson, a 27-year-old man from Bolton, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a landmark case for using artificial intelligence to create explicit 'deepfake' images of child abuse from real photos of children. This is the first time police have been able to link AI-generated abuse images to real children. Nelson, described as a 'dangerous and depraved' individual with a 'warped mind,' made thousands of pounds by producing and distributing these 'bespoke' images depicting children being harmed sexually and physically to other paedophiles. He used AI tools, including Daz 3D, to create the images. Authorities are increasingly concerned about the misuse of AI technology in creating illegal and exploitative content and are racing to stop the proliferation of such material.