# AI pornography that is otherwise illegal **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 5, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400 "2026-02-05T19:50:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/21 "2026-02-05T22:19:48Z")
Is true, although reading the OP without reading the title of the thread itself is usually the opposite of what sometimes happens. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/22 "2026-02-05T22:22:33Z")
Correct; I imagine it might mean possessing, viewing, or distributing that depiction in that community would be a violation of law. That same depiction might be legal elsewhere though. That’s how pornography laws usually work, including media depicting real people. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/23 "2026-02-05T22:24:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > although reading the OP without reading the title of the thread itself is usually the opposite of what sometimes happens. That’s probably why - I’ve trained myself to scan thread titles for key words, click and then read the OP very carefully. Anyway, issue resolved. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/24 "2026-02-05T22:24:44Z")
I think Pornhub has a little notice that tells you not to open the main link if you think what you might see is illegal where you are. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/25 "2026-02-05T22:31:14Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > The Japanese have been arguing that for years. And Korea. The MMORPG “TERA Online”, developed in Korea, faced controversy for depicting non-human characters that bore a resemblance to human children (with animal-like features that made them clearly not human). Those characters (the “Elin” race) could be dressed in sexualizing outfits. They ended up having to change those aspects of the game for western markets. Here is one blog talking about it. > **[The unsavoury Case of Tera’s regional Morals](https://www.mmogypsy.com/2012/05/the-unsavoury-case-of-teras-regional-morals.html)** > > With more and more armor and boob complaints on the female character models in Guild Wars 2 popping up, it struck me how quiet the blogosphere has been in regards to Tera – and what has been … And here is an article that interviews a representative from the European publisher of the game, discussing how they censored the game before deploying it in that market. > **[From panties to shorties: why the young anime girls of Tera were censored](https://www.eurogamer.net/from-panties-to-shorties-why-the-young-anime-girls-of-tera-were-censored)** > > MMO Tera features a fictional race of scantily clad young anime girls called the Elin. In South Korea, where the game w… This game first came to my mind because I played it quite a bit before it was taken offline. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/26 "2026-02-05T22:52:33Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Why should it be illegal? One strong argument is that AI images can be made so realistic as to be indistinguishable from actual photographs, and if AI images and actual photographs are indistinguishable, then practically speaking, if AI images are legal, then it makes it almost impossible to prosecute laws against photographs. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/27 "2026-02-05T22:58:46Z")
Unless there’s an actual victim saying, “This is a picture of me” or “This is a picture of my child”. Although tracking down victims will be harder, of course, when you have to figure out what is real and what isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/28 "2026-02-05T23:21:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > One strong argument is that AI images can be made so realistic as to be indistinguishable from actual photographs, and if AI images and actual photographs are indistinguishable, then practically speaking, if AI images are legal, then it makes it almost impossible to prosecute laws against photographs. The other side of that is it would likely reduce the number of victims, since there’d be little point in using real children instead of generated images. That would certainly fit the pattern. For decades we’ve been told that allowing portrayals of violence or (insert taboo sex act) would increase it happening in real life. But that’s not what actually happens, instead the rate of actual examples of the forbidden act goes down while people just watch or read the imaginary version. EDIT: To the point that now some people argue that porn should be banned to _increase_ sex. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/29 "2026-02-05T23:33:05Z")
And if you read that cite, > ### [Supreme Court cases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTECT_Act_of_2003#Supreme_Court_cases) > > The Department of Justice appealed the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. In its May 2008 decision in United States v. Williams, the Supreme Court reversed the Eleventh Circuit’s ruling and upheld this portion of the act. **However, the court did not reverse its holding in Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition as to virtual child pornography which is not obscene under the Miller standard.** ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/30 "2026-02-05T23:33:22Z")
The only arguments I am sympathetic to for outlawing such porn is if it cannot be distiniguished from real people. This could be because it cannot be distinguished from CSAM. This could also be because it looks like an actual human and can cause that person reputational or similar harm. I am very strongly of the opinion that fantasy cannot be illegal, as it would be a thoughtcrime, and it is not wrong as long as it is kept away from those it would harm. This is, of course, ignoring any training data sourcing issues, or any intellectual property issues. Or any environmental impact. If you wish, replace my ideas with human-produced digital content. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2026, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/31 "2026-02-05T23:36:22Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The other side of that is it would likely reduce the number of victims, since there’d be little point in using real children instead of generated images. To be clear, I said it’s a strong argument. I didn’t say that I was arguing it myself. There are, as you say, arguments the other way, too, and I’m not sure what the overall best position is. With cartoons or the like, it’s different. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/32 "2026-02-06T00:12:11Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I can’t remember her name, but there was a photographer who got in much trouble photographing her children nude, while swimming. She published those photographs in a big book of all her photography. > > I believe it was a court case. I’ll look see can I find the name of this woman. You probably mean Sally Mann. Her books are legal and on Amazon. [https://www.amazon.com/Books-Sally-Mann/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp\_27%3ASally%2BMann](https://www.amazon.com/Books-Sally-Mann/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASally%2BMann) [https://www.npr.org/2025/09/24/nx-s1-5350583/art-work-sally-mann](https://www.npr.org/2025/09/24/nx-s1-5350583/art-work-sally-mann) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/33 "2026-02-06T00:27:53Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Her books are legal and on Amazon. And Sally Mann is probably not an AI. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/34 "2026-02-06T00:37:03Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > And Sally Mann is probably not an AI. Otherwise she’d be named Sally Bott, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/35 "2026-02-06T00:41:03Z")
She could have teamed up with an AI. > **[Mann & Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_%26_Machine)** > > Mann & Machine is an American science fiction/police drama television series that aired for nine episodes on NBC from April 5 to July 14, 1992. > Created by Dick Wolf and Robert De Laurentis, the series starred Yancy Butler as Sgt. Eve Edison, a beautiful police officer who is also a sophisticated gynoid capable of learning and emotion. She is partnered with Det. Bobby Mann (David Andrews), a human officer who disdains robots. Rounding out the regular cast was S. Epatha Merkerson as Capt. Clagho... ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/36 "2026-02-06T00:49:29Z")
Heh. I had a professor way back in the ‘90s who asked the class if anyone could come up with a reason to ban computer-generated porn of this sort — adding, conspiratorially, that he’d spoken with people in law enforcement who’d in fact told him the reason _they_ wanted it to be illegal. He shot down the first answer he got; I then offered my best guess, and he shot it down likewise. He then assured us the _real_ reason was because people who prey on children would love to show stuff like this to kids, and convincingly claim that, as you can see, this sure is something that kids do! And, hey, look at how that showcased kid, who must be having a good time, is clearly smiling in that picture! I still don’t know exactly what to make of his answer. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/37 "2026-02-06T00:54:42Z")
I think it would be difficult to label any of it as illegal at the moment. An exception might be a video somehow explicitly stating the actor(s) were under a certain age or did not provide consent. But I’d vote it should be. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/38 "2026-02-06T01:29:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > AI porn involving AI children, AI animals or AI torture/death comes to mind. The reason given by the Supreme Court on why kiddie porn, and only Kiddie porn was illegals was that somewhere along the lines, mostly at the start, a child was being abused/raped. Which is why purely written porn of that nature was the exception. In AI, where is the real child being abused? . > [@Alessan](#): > > Right, but your OP didn’t specify that. Right. The OP did not specify or mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/39 "2026-02-06T01:33:52Z")
Once again, already acknowledged, with a note that it was mentioned in the title. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400/40 "2026-02-06T01:45:33Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > He shot down the first answer he got; I then offered my best guess, and he shot it down likewise. He then assured us the _real_ reason was because people who prey on children would love to show stuff like this to kids, and convincingly claim that, as you can see, this sure is something that kids do! And, hey, look at how that showcased kid, who must be having a good time, is clearly smiling in that picture! > > I still don’t know exactly what to make of his answer. Eh, I don’t buy it; it sounds like one of those strained hypotheticals people come up with to justify a goal or belief they already have. If nothing else, they don’t _need_ to persuade a kid, it’s not like the kid can fight back effectively. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-pornography-that-is-otherwise-illegal/1027400.md?page=3)