Source: Swiss Info

Swiss Info reports on a decisive ruling by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne, which has declared that pornographic films using digital rejuvenation technology to make adult actors appear like minors are illegal. The court’s decision clarifies the application of the Criminal Code, which since 2014 has prohibited not only real child sexual abuse material but also "non-real" content generated exclusively virtually. In this specific case, the court determined that using AI-powered software or filters to manipulate the physical appearance of an adult to resemble a child falls under the same criminal prohibition. This is the first time the highest Swiss court has specifically addressed the use of rejuvenation software in this context.

The judges argued that proving the actual age of actors becomes extremely difficult when digital retouching is involved, potentially complicating the prosecution of actual abuse material if "non-real" variants go unpunished. Furthermore, the court emphasized that such content poses a societal harm by normalizing the sexualization of children. Consequently, the publication and distribution of such "red light" material will now be penalized in the same manner as content generated entirely by computers. This ruling represents a significant step in Switzerland’s efforts to adapt its legal framework to the challenges posed by high-fidelity AI image manipulation and the protection of public order and child safety.