In the UK, the first lawsuit in the country’s history over the creator of unlawful content using artificial intelligence has concluded. Hugh Nelson, a 27-year-old resident of Bolton, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for creating and distributing prohibited materials with images of minors. The investigation was carried out by the Greater Manchester Police.
The offender utilized the DAZ 3D program, which employed artificial intelligence, to convert ordinary photographs of minors into illicit content. Some customers even provided photos of real children with whom they had contact, according to the investigation.
Over a year and a half, Nelson earned approximately £5,000 by selling the created materials in Internet chats. Unlike previous cases involving “deepfakes,” where faces were replaced, Nelson created three-dimensional models based on photographs.
Nelson was apprehended after he informed a police officer, posing as a potential customer, of his readiness to create a new “character” for £80 in an online chat. During the subsequent search, evidence of Nelson’s involvement in unlawful activities against children under 13 years of age was found in his correspondence. The police have identified several suspects and victims around the world, including in Italy, France, and the USA.
Hugh Nelson was found guilty of inciting violence against children under 13, attempting to engage teenagers up to 16 years old in sexual activities, as well as distributing and manufacturing illegal images.
Despite attempts by his lawyer to portray him as a lonely individual seeking recognition in the online community, the judge condemned Nelson’s actions as “terrifying and disgusting,” highlighting the lack of harm to the defendant compared to the harm caused to others.
Special prosecutor Junett Smith from the Royal Prosecution Service emphasized that the case underscores how rapidly developing technologies can pose serious threats to children. Detective Inspector Jen Tattersol noted that crimes involving computer graphics are on the rise, with two similar cases initiated in just the past week.