Risto Bergman

A 42-year-old telecoms worker from Paisley, originally from Finland, has been sentenced for producing and possessing indecent images of child sexual abuse generated through artificial intelligence. Risto Bergman appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court, where he admitted to making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children. The case highlights the emerging dangers of AI technology in facilitating child exploitation, as the images were created using a legitimate app that drew from a digital library of real abuse material shared online by paedophiles.

The images, discovered on a computer storage unit in Bergman's Paisley flat, included Category A material, representing the most extreme forms of child sexual abuse. Bergman now resides in Argyll and Bute. He pled guilty in April at Paisley Sheriff Court, and on 19 May, he received an 18-month Community Payback Order, during which he will be subject to close monitoring and supervision. Additionally, his name was added to the Sex Offenders Register.

Procurator Fiscal for North Strathclyde, David Bernard, emphasised the severity of Bergman's actions in a statement reported by the Glasgow Times. He said: “This is by no means a victimless crime. Bergman’s depraved actions effectively encouraged those who abuse children to continue their activities. Artificial Intelligence apps draw upon online images of real children being subjected to sexual abuse. Behind every AI-generated ‘pseudo-photograph’ of abuse are real-life child victims. Bergman made himself a participant in that process.” Bernard further noted that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) would continue to use every tool available to prevent child exploitation, welcoming the conviction and encouraging reports of similar offences.

The case underscores the realistic nature of the AI-generated images, which were so lifelike that they could be mistaken for authentic photographs. Bergman used sexually descriptive search terms to direct the app's function, resulting in distressing depictions of young girls being abused. This incident, covered in the Glasgow Times on 20 May, serves as a stark reminder of how accessible technology can perpetuate cycles of child abuse.