TOKYO - A 31-year-old company employee has been arrested on suspicion of creating and posting pornographic images generated by artificial intelligence that imitate female celebrities on the internet. Police allege that Hiroya Yokoi used generative AI tools to produce explicit images resembling well-known women and then published them online.
The suspect, identified as Hirohiro Shiroi, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on October 15th in Akita City. Investigators say he created sexually explicit images resembling three well-known actresses using generative AI and uploaded them to websites. These fabricated pornographic images and videos of real people are commonly known as “sexual deepfakes,” and they have become a major social issue in Japan and abroad.
Police say Yokoi produced an estimated 20,000 deepfake pornographic images in total, closely resembling 262 female celebrities. During questioning, he admitted to the allegations, telling investigators that he believed “images resembling female celebrities would attract significant attention and generate substantial revenue.”
Yokoi reportedly made the images available through a paid subscription on foreign websites, charging users between $1 and $100 per month. Through this operation, he is believed to have earned roughly 1.2 million yen. He also accepted requests for custom-made images.
Investigators revealed that Yokoi learned how to make sexual deepfakes by studying publicly available online tutorials and articles. A quick search online shows that numerous videos titled “How to Make AI Porn” are widely accessible, and many manuals and sexually explicit AI-generated images are openly shared and sold. Police say Yokoi’s tools consisted of nothing more than a smartphone and free generative AI software.
According to the National Police Agency, more than 100 reports and consultations related to sexual deepfakes were filed across Japan last year. One of the biggest concerns, experts say, is that anyone can easily become either a victim or a perpetrator.
“AI technology is advancing so quickly that tools we couldn’t even imagine a week ago are now available,” one legal expert said. “Legislation simply hasn’t been able to keep pace with the speed of these developments.”
Experts recommend individuals take precautions to avoid becoming victims, such as limiting the public sharing of photos that clearly show their faces on social media or restricting access to such images. “The most important thing is for people to understand that this threat exists and to act accordingly,” the expert added.
Currently, Japan has no specific laws prohibiting the creation of pornographic images using generative AI, a legal gap that experts warn is becoming increasingly problematic. Takahiro Nagaoka, a lawyer at Nagaoka Law Office, said that without regulating the creation of such material from the outset, “it becomes extremely difficult to control its distribution later. Tightening legal restrictions at the entry point, in line with other countries, may be necessary.”
The rise of AI-generated pornography and the absence of clear legislation have raised growing concerns among legal experts and privacy advocates, who warn that Japan risks falling behind other countries in protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators.
Source: FNN
