AIGC-Enabled Cyber Sexual Offenses: Technological Logic and Legal Regulation

Abstract

With the advent of the digital era, Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) has come to play an increasingly important role in daily life. However, technological development inevitably brings new challenges. Some offenders have begun to exploit AIGC tools for criminal purposes, seriously infringing upon individual rights and public security. This study begins at the technological foundation and systematically examines the three core layers—data, algorithms, and computing power—each of which can be exploited by malicious actors. It then identifies and analyzes the two most common forms of AIGC-enabled cyber sexual offenses: face forgery and psychological manipulation. Building on this analysis, the paper proposes a tripartite analytical framework of “subject–tool–object” to clarify the underlying logic of these crimes. Within this framework, perpetrators are categorized into three levels: technology developers, tool distributors, and direct offenders. The criminal process is divided into four sequential stages: information collection, content generation, dissemination, and psychological manipulation. This structured deconstruction transforms previously fragmented phenomena into a clear and coherent picture. AIGC-enabled cyber sexual offenses are characterized by low barriers to entry, high concealment, and severe harm. Current legal frameworks struggle to address them effectively due to lagging definitions, difficulties in evidence recognition, insufficient platform accountability, and challenges in cross-border enforcement. Effective governance requires a coordinated approach that integrates legal measures with technological solutions, while mobilizing the joint efforts of platforms, society, and the international community.