In a
highly publicized development, Tokyo police arrested four people, aged between
20 and 50, for selling adult images created using artificial intelligence (AI)
online. Although
the women featured in the images don't exist in real life, authorities decided
that doesn't make them any less problematic. This is the first time in
Japan that someone has been arrested for selling this type of AI-generated
content.
Among those
arrested are Tomohiro Mizutani (水谷智浩), 44, of Aichi, and Takashi Suganuma (菅沼貴司), 53, of Saitama. They are
alleged to have used free AI software to create images of fully nude women in
suggestive poses last October, then printed them as posters and sold them on
online auction sites.
The
posters were advertised as "AI-created beauties" and sold for several
thousand yen each. In
fact, Mizutani reportedly earned more than 10 million yen (about $66,000) in
just one year. During interrogation, he confessed that he did it
because "selling posters was very profitable," while Suganuma said he
learned everything on his own because he wanted to make a business out of it.
This
case has rekindled a fairly serious discussion in Japan about the use of tools
like deepfakes and AI image generation, especially when it comes to adult
content. Although
the women in this case don't exist, the police still classified it as
"obscene material," something that hadn't been done officially until
now. In short, Japan has just set a precedent with this case. Although
the models weren't real, the consequences are. And the surprise for internet
users was not long in coming:
- " But according to
what law is this!? "
- " Even cartoons
should have human rights, right? "
- " What crime did
they commit? Tax evasion or what? "
- " There is no
legal basis ."
- " If the
reproductive system is visible, it's a crime of indecent exposure. Even
with hand-drawn pictures, you can end up arrested ."
- " They say it's
for 'distribution of obscene images.' The law is very ambiguous ."
- "I mean, if it's
not real, it's just a drawing! Don't come up with the idea that the mosaic
lobby can do whatever they want just because it's full of retired
bureaucrats. Ridiculous! "
- " They say they
mosaicked the sample image to prevent the auction site from removing them
for obscene content, but the product they sent was uncensored ."
- « I don't think the
person who bought it reported it, so the police must have bought it on
purpose, haha. Stop using our taxes on adult content! ».
- " They say they
used a free AI to make images of women in "spread your legs"
poses look like nudes of nonexistent adult women. Thanks for explaining
how it's done! This is more like incitement to crime, isn't it? "
- " We are already
in an age where anyone can make and sell obscene things or even AI-powered
weapons or printers ."
- " Even if they are
accused, they will surely be declared innocent in court ."
- " Even Amazon has
AI-made nude photo collections in the unlimited reading section! The
police just want to take down AI because it bothers them ."
- " Let me know when
you arrest someone who hasn't done something with licensed or non-mosaic
characters. Because if it's for those two, it's obvious they're going to
get arrested. It's not even worth arguing about. "
- " If it's clear
and you can see everything, then yes, it's an arrest. And
they'll probably also be charged with tax evasion ."
