A shocking case occurred in the UK recently. 27-year-old Hugh Nelson used artificial intelligence technology to create images of child sexual abuse and made profits, and was eventually sentenced to 18 years in prison. This case has aroused widespread attention from the society on the abuse of artificial intelligence technology and children's network security, and also highlighted the need to strengthen network supervision and child protection. Details of the case show that Nelson used Daz3D software to create 3D images based on real children's photos and sell them through online forums. His behavior seriously violated the law and caused immeasurable harm to the victimized children. This incident warns us that while technological advances, we must be more wary of the risks of being used for criminal activities.
Recently, a compelling case has attracted widespread attention in the UK. Hugh Nelson, a 27-year-old man, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for using artificial intelligence to convert ordinary photos of children into images of sexual abuse.
Image source notes: The image is generated by AI, and the image authorized service provider Midjourney
Nelson, from Bolton, created 3D “characters” using an app called Daz3D, all based on photos of innocent children.
Shockingly, Nelson was not acting alone, he also received images from others commissioned. Some even provide him with photos of themselves and children, asking him to make these images. According to The Guardian, Nelson earned about £5,000 (about $6,494) in 18 months by selling these commissioned child sexual abuse images. He trades through online forums, and the arrest was when he told an undercover policeman that he charged £80 (about $103) to create new roles for clients.
Eventually, Nelson was found guilty on multiple charges, including abetting rape of a child under the age of 13, attempting to seduce a boy under the age of 16 to perform sexual acts, distributing and producing indecent images, and possessing prohibited images. His behavior triggered the society's deep thoughts on using technology to commit crimes. The severe punishment of the law is not only a personal punishment for him, but also a warning to all potential criminals.
The verdict in this case has aroused public attention to cybersecurity and child protection, and also reminds people to always be vigilant and protect children's safety in the Internet world.
Key points:
Hugh Nelson used AI technology to create images of child sexual abuse and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
He earned about £5,000 by selling the images and had clients commissioned him to produce them.
Nelson was found guilty on multiple charges, including abetting rape and distributing indecent images.
The verdict in the Hugh Nelson case is not only a severe crackdown on criminal behavior, but also a wake-up call for the ethical application of artificial intelligence technology. We must strengthen supervision of artificial intelligence technology and actively take measures to protect minors from cybercrimes, and jointly build a safe and healthy network environment.