Article (Scientific journals)
Generative AI and criminal law
PANATTONI, Beatrice
2025In Cambridge Forum on AI. Law and Governance, 1, p. 1-14
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Abstract :
[en] Several criminal offenses can originate from or culminate with the creation of content. Sexual abuse can be committed by producing intimate materials without the subject’s consent, while incitement to violence or self-harm can begin with a conversation. When the task of generating content is entrusted to artificial intelligence (AI), it becomes necessary to explore the risks of this technology. AI changes criminal affordances because it creates new kinds of harmful content, it amplifies the range of recipients, and it can exploit cognitive vulnerabilities to manipulate user behavior. Given this evolving landscape, the question is whether policies aimed at fighting Generative AI-related harms should include criminal law. The bulk of criminal law scholarship to date would not criminalize AI harms on the theory that AI lacks moral agency. Even so, the field of AI might need criminal law, precisely because it entails a moral responsibility. When a serious harm occurs, responsibility needs to be distributed considering the guilt of the agents involved, and, if it is lacking, it needs to fall back because of their innocence. Thus, legal systems need to start exploring whether and how guilt can be preserved when the actus reus is completely or partially delegated to Generative AI.
Disciplines :
Criminal law & procedure
Author, co-author :
PANATTONI, Beatrice  ;  University of Luxembourg
External co-authors :
no
Language :
English
Title :
Generative AI and criminal law
Publication date :
2025
Journal title :
Cambridge Forum on AI. Law and Governance
eISSN :
3033-3733
Publisher :
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Volume :
1
Pages :
1-14
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBilu :
since 06 September 2025

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