Hyogo Man Arrested for Using Generative AI to Create Sexual Images of 12‑Year‑Old Girl

Kenta Iemoto, a 32‑year‑old company employee living in Hyogo Prefecture, was arrested after police said he used generative AI to manipulate images of a 12‑year‑old girl in gym clothes into sexualized pictures. The illicit images, estimated at around 300, were posted on a social‑media platform after he received requests through an online group.

Iemoto admitted that he enjoyed creating the images because they pleased the requesters. The investigation also identified a 17‑year‑old male high‑school student who had asked for the AI‑generated images; the teenager was formally charged with a document‑submission (shorui sōketsu). The case highlights concerns over the misuse of AI technology for child sexual exploitation.