Man creates images, never shares them: "The Harm Is Real"

[Jim Burton]

Topeka man sentenced for AI related child exploitation offenses

https://www.wibw.com/2025/11/06/topeka- ... -offenses/

“While it is still an emerging technology, I believe there can be many wonderful and beneficial aspects of artificial intelligence, but there is also a dark side. Unfortunately, child predators are using AI for twisted and perverse activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The fact that Jeremy Weber was able to create realistic looking images of child pornography using the faces of children and adults should remind us that we are all vulnerable to this type of violation. Although the images were ‘fake’, the harm he inflicted on the victims and the consequences were very real.”

[FairBlueLove]

the investigation into Weber started after an IT professional observed criminal activity on Weber’s computer and reported it to local law enforcement

I would have another name for this "IT professional".

[Jim Burton]

If:

A) The "evils" are confined within a box no one should see inside but the owner,
B) They do not cause suffering in their present form, but do so when the box is opened,

...why are we not punishing these Pandoras such as this technician, for causing suffering?

It's they who created the pornography as media, by stealing it and deciding that others must know about it. The owner of the image only created it as imagination, only gave consent for it to exist in the form of their own imagination.

[CantChainTheSpirit]

I think any reasonable thinking person understands how ridiculous the argument has become but it's no longer about justice for a victim, or justice at all. These punishments are purely just punishments designed to hurt one group of people who law makers don't like. AI producing an image has no victim and as an outlet for a map it means he's just frustrated and out there seeking the real thing.

I think everyone, not just maps, understands this and knows it's nothing to do with justice, but it's permitted because it isn't a hill anyone other than a map has any interest dying on.