West Montgomery Times

HARRISBURG – Senators Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Jimmy Dillon (D-5), and Lisa Boscola (D-18) have introduced legislation aimed at addressing the issue of “deepfake” images of minors and AI-generated child pornography.

Recently, certain websites have published realistic AI-generated sexual images involving non-consenting adults and children. These images, while artificial, are created using data and images from real individuals. Although Pennsylvania law currently prohibits the unauthorized dissemination of intimate images, it does not specifically address the use of AI deepfake technology to create such images.

Senate Bill 1213 seeks to explicitly prohibit the use of AI deepfake technology to create pornographic images of individuals without their consent and to ban the creation of child pornography using this technology.

“AI technology comes with benefits and drawbacks, and one of its most insidious uses is to create sexual images of people who did not give their consent, along with outright child porn,” said Pennycuick, who chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. “This bipartisan legislation sends the message that this depraved use of AI will not be tolerated in Pennsylvania.”

“As a parent of two teenage girls, learning about AI deepfake technology was alarming,” said Dillon. “Our legislation is crucial in protecting individuals, including children, from deepfake sexual exploitation in the form of AI-generated pornographic images.”

“Unfortunately, the rapid expansion of AI technology and its potential for exploitation has outpaced current law. ‘Deepfake’ content involving non-consenting adults and children has popped up both online and in our schools, with devastating results,” Boscola said. “I’m proud our legislation empowers law enforcement to fight against this vile new trend.”

CONTACT: Lidia DiFiore (215) 541-2388