What if AI is used to create ultra realistic child porn? Is it okay for a person to look at that because it’s “not hurting anyone”?
I would argue that anyone looking at illustrations of kiddie porn is absolutely harming someone: himself. And we do plenty to protect people from harming themselves, including outlawing various medical practices, sales of certain items and substances, and even certain behaviors that are deemed harmful to society despite “not hurting anyone else”. I’m perfectly happy putting “consumption of animated child porn” on that side of the line.
The whole idea that 'harm' is the only reason for imprisonment or (preventative) detention should be dispensed with. If someone is attracted to children, then we cannot police his mind or his speech, but we certainly can prevent him from acting on it in any way - including watching 'harmless' computer-generated images.
What if AI is used to create ultra realistic child porn? Is it okay for a person to look at that because it’s “not hurting anyone”?
I would argue that anyone looking at illustrations of kiddie porn is absolutely harming someone: himself. And we do plenty to protect people from harming themselves, including outlawing various medical practices, sales of certain items and substances, and even certain behaviors that are deemed harmful to society despite “not hurting anyone else”. I’m perfectly happy putting “consumption of animated child porn” on that side of the line.
The whole idea that 'harm' is the only reason for imprisonment or (preventative) detention should be dispensed with. If someone is attracted to children, then we cannot police his mind or his speech, but we certainly can prevent him from acting on it in any way - including watching 'harmless' computer-generated images.