The Limassol district court has issued its first sentence in a case relating to the creation and spreading of AI-generated child sexual abuse content, marking the first of its kind in the Republic, the state law office said on Tuesday.

“[The two defendants] chose to act against individuals who never appear to have bothered them or otherwise provoked them to exhibit such shameless behaviour, and their entire conduct can only be described as, at best, unacceptable, antisocial and utterly selfish,” the court said.

In its decision, the court emphasised the severity of the offence, highlighting that such incidents were on an alarming rise and have become an unprecedentedly widespread problem.

The court sentenced the defendants, who were of unknown age, to several prison terms, which it suspended due to their young age. In addition, it handed down rulings to aid the recovery of the defendant.

“The courts, as guardians of legality and order, have a duty to safeguard and ensure the faithful application of the law in the interest of society,” it said.

The law office said further details of the case could not be disclosed as it was heard in private due to its sensitive nature.

Attorney Nadia Koliarou handled the case, which could set a precedent for future cases in view of the increase in AI-generated content.