[prirun]

I don't know the answer to this question, but isn't it possibly better (less dangerous to society) for a pedophile to have a computer screen that generates pictures to satisfy his cravings, regardless of how disturbing they may be to others, rather than trying to satisfy them in the real world with real people?

I guess one could argue that having access to digital images could increase a pedophile's cravings. I don't know if there are any factual studies or data to confirm or refute this. It's often bandied about that one reason young people aren't having as much sex is because porn is so easily accessible. If true, it seems that would apply to pedophiles as well.

[BoorishBears]

Academically there might be an argument to be had, but part of the problem is when you're running the service you don't feel removed enough to have this kind of academic analysis of the situation.

You see CSAM, you see that you enabled someone creating it and as a result you're now hosting it, and you react accordingly without any thought of the larger picture.

[deterministic]

People used to think that being exposed to violent VHS tapes, video games, or D&D would make all teenagers serial killers. That hasn’t happened obviously. Quite the opposite. Violent youth crime has gone down not up. So I bet that pedos using AI’s instead of real kids will keep more kids safe.