Four arrested in Japan for selling AI-generated obscene image posters
Four people aged 20 to 50, including Tomohiro Mizutani, were arrested in Japan for selling posters printed with AI-generated obscene images of women via an online auction site. The case marks the first nationwide prosecution of obscene content generated and sold using generative AI.
What happened
Four people aged 20 to 50, including Tomohiro Mizutani (44), were arrested for distributing obscene images under suspicion of violating obscenity laws. The suspects allegedly downloaded free generative AI software and used it to create various types of nude female images, which they printed as posters.
The posters were sold multiple times starting around October 2024 via an internet auction site. Each poster sold for approximately several thousand yen, and Mizutani reportedly earned about 10 million yen over approximately one year.
Reported impact
One suspect stated they began the business after seeing a post on X (Twitter) claiming that selling AI-generated adult posters offered low production costs and high profit margins. The suspect said they learned the technique independently through online research.
Index analysis
The generative AI software used by the suspects was free and available to the public. Multiple listings of AI-generated obscene images reportedly numbering in the tens of thousands were observed on auction sites.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.