UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defends the government’s push to hold tech firms accountable for online harm, urging stronger laws to tackle AI-driven content.
During an interview with BBC on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Yvette Cooper warns that artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly intensifying online child abuse, describing it as “putting the issue on steroids.”
She stresses the need for strict legislation, raising concerns that online abuse is growing more “sadistic.” She advocates for “severe punishments” for those who create forums that teach the misuse of AI for harmful purposes.
What did Yvette Cooper say about the link between online and offline crime?
The National Crime Agency expressed concern over the growing ties between online crime and offline abuse. When questioned by the Home Secretary about whether online crime is now connected to real-life offences, she endorsed this fact.
Ms Cooper reveals that NCA experts are deeply concerned by how online crime continues to serve as a “gateway that leads to more violent offline abuse.”
She highlights the impact of online harassment and blackmail, which have traumatic effects on young individuals, causing significant harm. Ms. Cooper further emphasized that advancements in technology are being manipulated to exploit the younger generation.
As reported by the BBC, NCA reports reveal that approximately 800,000 individuals are accessing child abuse content online.
What was Cooper’s response to action against grooming gangs?
When asked whether Elon Musk‘s involvement urged the government to take action on grooming gangs, Ms Cooper responded that the government was already in the process of implementing the child sexual abuse inquiry recommendations, which had yet to be carried out.
The Home Secretary announced that the government is providing additional assistance to regions like Oldham, where a 2022 local inquiry revealed its shortcomings in protecting children.
The interviewer asked three times if she would have launched a national audit of gang-driven sexual exploitation after the Tesla owner’s intervention, but she did not directly answer the question.
What actions did Yvette Cooper outline to tackle violent content on social media?
The Home Secretary condemns the ongoing availability of harmful content, which she described as “disgraceful,” insisting that social media companies hold a “moral responsibility” to take action. She explains that the Online Safety Act, which will be implemented in Spring, will legally require firms to remove illegal material.
Recently, the Home Secretary announced that Britain will be the first country globally to ban the ownership of intelligent tools intended to create child abuse images.
A new law will make owning AI tools that create child sexual abuse images punishable by up to five years in prison. The Crime and Policing Bill also targets AI-generated “paedophile manuals,” with offenders potentially facing three-year sentences.
Ms Cooper added, “This government will not hesitate to act to ensure the safety of children online by ensuring our laws keep pace with the latest threats.”
What did the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) say about AI-generated child abuse images?
The proposed law reforms come in response to warnings from the IWF, which has reported a rise in the creation of child abuse images.
According to the charity’s recent figures, reports of AI-generated child abuse pictures have increased by 380%, with 245 confirmed cases in 2024, up from 51 in 2023.
It stated that some AI-generated material is so realistic that it becomes difficult to distinguish between actual abuse and fabricated content.
What did the CEO of IWF say about the impact of AI-generated child abuse images?
Derek Ray-Hill, acting CEO of the IWF, assured that the new measures would make a real impact on improvement in online security.
He stated, “The frightening speed with which AI imagery has become indistinguishable from photographic abuse has shown the need for legislation to keep pace with new technologies.”
Mr Hill described the situation as a “nightmare scenario” where any minor could become a victim, with realistic images of abuse easily created with just a few prompts.