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Can AI images be illegal in the UK?
Short answer
Yes. Across the UK it's a crime to make or share AI-generated child sexual abuse images, and in England and Wales it's a crime to create a sexually explicit deepfake of an adult without consent. Making or supplying tools built for intimate deepfakes became an offence in June 2026. Ordinary AI images can still break copyright or consumer law.
Criminal offences
| What | Law | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Making, possessing or sharing AI child sexual abuse images | Protection of Children Act 1978 (pseudo-photographs) | Already illegal before 2026 |
| Adapting, possessing or supplying an AI model optimised to create child abuse images | Crime and Policing Act 2026 | Up to 5 years in prison; applies across the UK |
| Making or supplying a tool to create purported intimate images | Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 99 | In force from 29 June 2026; up to 3 years |
| Creating or requesting a sexually explicit deepfake of an adult without consent | Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, adding offences to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 | In force in England and Wales since 6 February 2026 |
| Sharing intimate images without consent, including deepfakes | Sexual Offences Act 2003, as amended by the Online Safety Act 2023 | England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own laws |
Civil law: the risks for a business
Most business AI images are legal, but watch for:
- Copyright and trade marks: an image that copies a recognisable artwork, character or logo.
- Passing off and misleading customers: AI "before and after" photos or images of jobs you didn't do. See can I use AI images in my business?
- Real people: using someone's likeness without permission can raise data protection and defamation issues. See is AI voice cloning legal?, which covers likeness too.
Related questions
Can you copyright AI art in the UK?
UK law has a special rule for computer-generated works, but it's untested for modern AI. See who owns AI-generated content?
Is it illegal to make a deepfake of a friend as a joke?
A non-sexual joke image isn't a crime in itself, but it can still be defamatory or a data protection issue, and the platform's rules apply. Sexual deepfakes without consent are a crime.
Where do I report illegal AI images?
Report child abuse images to the Internet Watch Foundation and the police. Report intimate image abuse to the police.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Crime and Policing Act 2026 child sexual abuse material factsheet
- Legislation.gov.uk: Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 99
- Legislation.gov.uk: Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, purported intimate images
- Legislation.gov.uk: Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Commencement No. 5) Regulations 2026
Checked 17 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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