A man’s sentence has been significantly increased by the Western High Court for producing and distributing sexually abusive material of children generated using artificial intelligence. The High Court’s decision overturns a previous ruling and sends a strong message about the severity of creating such content.

Originally, the Randers City Court sentenced the man to one year and three months in prison, with only three months to be served unconditionally. However, the High Court revised the sentence to one year and six months of unconditional imprisonment.

The case is notable as one of the first involving abusive material created with AI. The special prosecutor from the State Prosecutor in Viborg emphasized that the High Court’s ruling clarifies the legal stance on AI-generated abuse material and sends a clear deterrent.

The 29-year-old defendant not only created the material but also profited from its sale to numerous individuals globally. Special prosecutor Emil Stenbygaard highlighted the severity and volume of images where the defendant was the main subject, justifying the increased sentence.

The case has spurred international law enforcement cooperation. Europol announced in February that 273 buyers of the abusive material have been identified, leading to police actions in multiple countries.