Man jailed for using AI to create indecent images of children
Thomas Milton, a school theatre technician in England, was convicted and jailed for using AI software to generate sexual images of children from photographs of clothed teenagers, and for voyeurism offences including hidden camera surveillance. The court found him guilty on multiple counts after evidence showed he used the AI system repeatedly to create child sexual abuse material.
What happened
Thomas Milton, 32, a school theatre technician from Eston in Redcar, repeatedly used AI software to generate sexual images of children by uploading photographs of clothed teenagers and requesting the software to create nude versions.
Milton was found guilty of five counts of voyeurism after hiding a spy camera disguised as a USB stick in a changing room to film women and girls, and also secretly recorded two women in their bedrooms with hidden devices.
Reported impact
One victim who was recorded stripping in her home said Milton had 'violated my privacy in the worst way imaginable' and that she did not feel safe in her home for several months afterwards.
Another woman filmed without consent in her bedroom said his actions 'destroyed her sense of safety' and she had to move house as a result.
Index analysis
The AI system did not appear to have safeguards preventing it from being used to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM) when provided with images of real minors.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.