Artificial Intelligence Enters the Courtroom Over Fake Images

In an unprecedented move in Japan, police have arrested four individuals involved in selling explicit images generated by artificial intelligence, after they offered posters of nude women for sale online.

What makes this case particularly striking is that the images do not depict real women, but are the product of a free AI program used to create fictional visual content. The sales took place last October through online auctions, with each poster selling for amounts ranging between $20 and $50, prompting authorities to take action against what they consider a serious legal violation.

Japanese police stated that the suspects, aged between their twenties and fifties, face charges that could lead to up to two years in prison or hefty fines of up to 2.5 million yen — or both — due to the severity of the offense amid the growing sophistication of deepfake technology.

While the police have not officially confirmed whether this is the first case in Japan involving the use of AI to produce explicit materials, media reports emphasize the uniqueness of this incident in the Japanese context so far.

This case highlights growing global concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence for malicious purposes, especially in the sexual domain. Previous studies have shown that the vast majority of deepfake videos circulating online are pornographic in nature and are often created and distributed without the knowledge or consent of the individuals depicted. In this light, there is an urgent need to establish stricter legal and ethical frameworks to keep pace with this rapidly advancing technology and to set clear boundaries against its misuse.