South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who led the effort, is encouraging his fellow attorneys general to review their own state statutes for potential areas of concern. The Senate has held hearings on the possible threats posed by AI-related technologies, and some tech companies have begun participating in an online tool that allows teens to report explicit images and videos of themselves on the internet. However, there is currently no sign that Congress will create comprehensive new AI rules.
Key takeaways:
- The top prosecutors in all 50 states are urging Congress to study how artificial intelligence can be used to exploit children through pornography, and to establish legislation to guard against it.
- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson led the effort to add signatories from all 50 states to the letter, calling on federal lawmakers to expand existing restrictions on child sexual abuse materials to cover AI-generated images.
- Among the dangers AI poses include the creation of “deepfake” scenarios of a child that has already been abused, or the alteration of the likeness of a real child from a photograph taken from social media, so that it depicts abuse.
- There have been some moves within the tech industry to combat the issue, with companies like Meta, OnlyFans, and Pornhub participating in an online tool, called Take It Down, that allows teens to report explicit images and videos of themselves from the internet.