The Danger of AI-Generated Child Pornography: A Complex Ethical Problem
Sex offenses against children are a severe crime, and measures must be taken to prevent the sexual abuse of children. Recent efforts by US lawmakers to prevent AI-generated child pornography highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to address this problem. However, discussing this issue is highly emotional and challenging, as it is shrouded in taboos and moral concerns. Despite the difficulties, it is essential to address the entirety of ethical challenges surrounding AI-generated child pornography.
A simple solution to the problem seems to be a general ban. Yet, such bans may have unintended consequences that may even lead to a worse situation as observed in the “War on Drugs” initiated by Richard Nixon:
Drug control models that focus on law enforcement and incarcerations lead to an increase in drug-related issues, with overdose deaths rising in the USn significantly since 1980. The “Balloon Effect” suggests that reducing drug supply temporarily increases prices and thus boosts production and profits, showing that efforts to cut supply haven’t lessened drug availability or usage. Hence it is important to address misconceptions about drugs, and consider harm reduction, decriminalization, and legalization as better strategies as for example in the City of Vancouver.
