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What is AI generated porn and is it legal?

THE power of artificial intelligence (AI) has grown exponentially over the past few years.

With it, a tidal wave of issues have washed over surrounding copyright, intellectual property, and an almost-fated by-product: porn.

AI-powered image generators can be used to create pornographic pictures, which can look animated or hyper-realistic
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AI-powered image generators can be used to create pornographic pictures, which can look animated or hyper-realisticCredit: Reddit

How does AI generated porn work?

AI-powered systems like Stable Diffusion or Midjourney, which translate text prompts into pictures, can be used to create stunning images.

But these image generators can also be used to create pornographic pictures, which can look animated or hyper-realistic.

While these images, although indecent, usually include AI-generated characters - there is growing concern over AI-generated deepfake porn. 

Face-swapping technology can digitally manipulate pornography to make it look like other people are present in the images or film.

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Many deepfake clips feature a computer-generated face replacing that of a porn actor.

Photographs of celebrities are used often.

However, it's becoming more common that everyday people with very limited notoriety are finding themselves pasted into an existing pornographic photograph or film, replacing the original participant.

Twitch, Reddit and PornHub say they've banned it.

PornHub said in 2018 that AI-generated deepfake porn was classed as "non-consensual content" that violates its terms of service.

But like with all 'prohibited' content on technology platforms, these rules can be hard to police and so this type of content can still be accessible online. 

Is AI generated porn legal in the UK?

AI porn is currently legal in the UK.

Although the government announced last year that it is seeking to outlaw AI-generated deepfake porn as part of its Online Safety Bill.

The Law Commission has been campaigning for several years to extend the criminal laws on creating and sharing intimate images without consent to include altered intimate images, such as deepfakes.

A growing number of UK lawmakers and campaign groups have been calling for a ban on the use of AI to nudify women since it became clear technology was being abused.

The government said in November that there are growing global concerns about technology being used to create fake pornographic images and video. 

One unnamed website which creates nude images from clothed ones receiving 38million visits last year, the government noted at the time. 

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Under the UK’s Bill - which is yet to be officially imposed - platforms and services will have the legal duty to remove this type of material if it’s been shared on their platforms without consent.

The Bill is expected to be considered in the Lords at the end of April.   

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