UK government proposes outlawing computer-generated and cartoon images of child sex abuse

Britain's government said Tuesday it wants to ban virtual images of child pornography, including cartoons, drawings and computer-generated images.

The proposal is meant to close a loophole the Ministry of Justice believes pedophiles are using to create images showing the sexual abuse of children.

"This is not about criminalizing art or pornographic cartoons more generally, but about targeting obscene, and often very realistic, images of child sexual abuse which have no place in our society," Maria Eagle, a justice minister said in a statement.

The proposed offense would ban the possession of "non-photographic visual depictions of child sexual abuse" and subject offenders to a maximum three-year prison term.

It would have to go through Britain's Parliament before becoming law.