Tokyo, Japan – In a groundbreaking move, Japanese authorities have apprehended four individuals for the alleged sale of obscene images generated through artificial intelligence (AI). This marks the first crackdown of its kind in Japan, highlighting growing concerns about the misuse of AI technology.

According to local media reports on April 15, the suspects, ranging in age from their 20s to 50s, are accused of creating and selling posters featuring indecent depictions of women. These posters were reportedly sold on internet auction sites.

Citing police sources, public broadcaster NHK and other outlets revealed that the suspects utilized freely available AI software to generate images of naked adult women. These AI-generated women do not exist in the real world. The prompts used to create these images reportedly included explicit terms such as "legs open." The posters were then sold for several thousand yen each, equating to several multiples of $7.

While police have not yet confirmed the reports to AFP, the news has sparked significant discussion about the ethical and legal implications of AI-generated content. This is reportedly Japan's first arrest related to the sale of AI-created obscene images.

The incident underscores a growing global concern regarding the malicious applications of AI, particularly through deepfakes. Deepfakes involve manipulating genuine photos, videos, or audio to create false likenesses, often with harmful intent. A 2019 study by the Dutch AI company Sensity revealed that approximately 96% of deepfake videos online constitute non-consensual pornography, predominantly targeting women.

The arrests in Japan serve as a stark reminder of the need for robust regulations and ethical guidelines surrounding the development and deployment of AI technologies to prevent their misuse and protect individuals from harm.