Japanese teacher convicted of possessing AI-generated child sexual abuse images
A Japanese elementary school teacher was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for possessing AI-generated sexual deepfake images of real children and sharing voyeuristic photographs of students. The court made its first ruling that AI-generated child sexual abuse images constitute illegal child pornography.
What happened
A 35-year-old former elementary school teacher in Nagoya, Shota Mizufuji, was convicted of possessing AI-generated sexual deepfake images of real child victims. The court found he used an image editing site with generative AI to create synthetic naked images of two girls.
Between 2023 and 2025, Mizufuji engaged in multiple acts including placing bodily fluids on students' instruments and sharing voyeuristic photographs. In March 2025, he possessed on his smartphone two AI-generated images of girls with exposed chests and genitals, one of which he shared in a teacher group chat.
Reported impact
The Nagoya District Court found the AI-generated images were sophisticated enough to mislead ordinary viewers into believing they showed real naked children. The court noted the abuse of his position as a teacher and significant damage to public trust in educators and the education system.
Index analysis
This is the first judicial determination in Japan that AI-generated sexual deepfake images constitute child sexual abuse material under law. The court ruled that even synthetic images created through generative AI can be prosecuted as child pornography if they depict identifiable real children.
Governance controls
The case led to the discovery of a multi-prefecture teacher group. Seven educators across Aichi, Tokyo, Kanagawa and two other prefectures were arrested and prosecuted. Of these, two received prison sentences and two received suspended sentences, all now final.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.