The EU Takes on AI Creating Non-Consensual Sexual Content

The EU Wants to Ban AIs Generating Inappropriate Content

The European Union is considering banning artificial intelligences capable of creating nude images of real people without their consent. This week, an agreement was reached between negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council for a set of digital measures. Among these measures is the prohibition of AIs producing child pornography or depicting identifiable individuals' intimate parts engaged in explicit sexual activities without consent.

A Clear Rule

If the text is adopted, these types of AIs will be banned in the EU. AI models that do not have sufficient safety measures to prevent the creation of such content will also be prohibited. This provisional agreement still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council before it becomes effective. Adoption by the co-legislators is expected before August 2.

This initiative is deemed necessary in light of the rise of “sexual deepfakes,” a phenomenon that is even spreading in schools. In April, Wired magazine published a study on reported cases in schools, including in France, where an incident in 2025 saw a student disseminate sexual deepfakes of about thirty teenage girls from a high school.

The EU Also Wants to Simplify Its AI Rules

The agreement among EU negotiators also includes amendments to the AI Act, the European legislation on artificial intelligence. The amendments aim to simplify compliance for tech actors while preserving the essential measures of the law.

Proposals include postponing certain deadlines of the AI Act and administrative simplification. Michael McNamara, co-rapporteur of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, stated: “In addition to simplification measures, we are banning ‘nudification’ applications, a key element of the Parliament's mandate, as well as, of course, the creation of child pornography material using AI systems. This gives us the necessary tools to intervene if providers do not take action against AI systems that violate fundamental rights or human dignity.”