By June Ramli
Perth, Oct 8: AI-generated pornography may avoid the direct involvement of human performers, but that does not remove its wider ethical and social risks, Father Paolo Benanti told the National Press Club’s “Artificial Intelligence and Technology Ethics Forum.”
Benanti, an Italian Franciscan friar, theologian and academic specialising in the ethics of emerging technologies, spoke at the forum alongside Dr Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury.
Benanti has advised Pope Francis on artificial intelligence and technology ethics and is a member of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.
National Press Club chief executive Maurice Reilly speaking on behalf of this publication, asked Benanti whether AI-generated pornography was preferable to pornography involving real people because it avoids human exploitation, and whether it would be permitted by the Church. Benanti said the question went beyond whether performers were involved, and argued that people should have the right to know whether an image they are viewing is real or AI-generated.
He warned that realistic AI imagery could make it harder to distinguish fact from fabrication, with consequences for individuals and democracy.
As an example, he raised the possibility of a person being depicted in a false image committing a crime and questioned whether people had a right to know that the image was generated.
He also pointed to the financial incentives behind online pornography, noting the significant revenue associated with those websites.
Benanti raised a further concern about the possible psychological and social effects of turning harmful fantasies into vivid images. He said that moving from imagination to more concrete visual representation could make some behaviours feel closer to reality.
He highlighted the risk of normalising or facilitating harmful conduct, including pedophilia, and said the issue called for public and democratic debate rather than a solution imposed by the Church.
Leigh added that pornography can harm not only the people who produce it but also those who consume it.
He argued that a digital duty of care should prevent social media feeds from serving pornography to people under 18, including AI-generated material.
Leigh also cited research and concerns about young people encountering violent sexual behaviour in pornography, saying AI could lead to imagery that is even more violent or degrading.
Together, both speakers’ remarks suggested that the debate is not simply whether AI pornography is less harmful than pornography involving human performers.
It also concerns transparency, the effects of sexual imagery on consumers, protections for young people and how society should respond to rapidly developing technology.
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