Prosecutors Nationwide Unite to Combat AI-Driven Child Exploitation

Attorneys general from all 50 U.S. states and four territories have united in a letter urging Congress to take decisive steps against AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

“While internet crimes against children are actively prosecuted, we are increasingly concerned that AI is creating a new battlefield for abuse, making it harder to pursue legal action,” the letter explains.

AI technology has enabled malicious actors to easily create deepfake images that can present individuals in fabricated and often harmful scenarios. While some instances may be harmless—such as a viral depiction of the Pope in designer attire—there are more serious implications. As outlined by the attorneys general, this technology can be manipulated to support abusive behaviors.

“Regardless of whether the children in the source images have been physically harmed, the creation and distribution of sexualized images featuring real children poses severe risks to their physical, psychological, and emotional health, as well as that of their families,” the letter states.

The attorneys general are advocating for Congress to establish a committee dedicated to researching effective methods for mitigating the threats posed by AI-generated CSAM and to amend existing laws to specifically include protections against AI-created content.

Currently, nonconsensual, sexually exploitative AI deepfakes are rampant online, yet there are few legal safeguards for victims. States like New York, California, Virginia, and Georgia have implemented laws prohibiting the distribution of AI-generated sexually exploitative content. In 2019, Texas led the way by becoming the first state to outlaw the use of AI deepfakes in political elections. While leading social media platforms have policies against such content, it still occasionally slips through their filters. For example, in March, an app claiming to “swap any face” into inappropriate videos ran over 230 ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger—a violation that Meta addressed after being alerted by NBC News reporter Kat Tenbarge.

Meanwhile, European lawmakers are working toward international collaboration on an AI Code of Conduct, although discussions are still ongoing.