West Montgomery Times

Harrisburg, June 10, 2024 – The Pennsylvania Senate has approved Senate Bill 1213, legislation sponsored by Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Senator Jimmy Dillon (D-5), and Senator Lisa Boscola (D-18), aimed at combating AI-generated deepfake images of minors and child pornography. The bill passed unanimously.

The legislation addresses the increasing use of AI to generate sexual images of non-consenting adults and children. While current Pennsylvania law prohibits sharing intimate images without consent, it does not explicitly cover the use of AI deepfake technology for this purpose. This legislative gap leaves many vulnerable to new forms of digital abuse.

“It shocks the conscience what some people will do with the latest technology, including creating sexual images of people who did not give their consent and outright child porn. We need to do everything we can to prevent individuals from using AI for these insidious purposes,” said Pennycuick, who chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. “By working in a bipartisan manner, the General Assembly is making it clear that Pennsylvania is not the place for this depraved activity.”

The inspiration for SB 1213 partly stems from incidents such as one in Westfield, NJ, where AI-generated nude photos of high school students were maliciously shared on social media. This incident underscores the urgent need for legal protections against such exploitative actions. More alarming is the emergence of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. SB 1213 aims to provide law enforcement and prosecutors with necessary tools to address this issue directly.

“This bill does more than update our laws to reflect technological advancements – it protects our children, our families, and our communities from a dangerous form of digital exploitation,” said Dillon. “The emotional and psychological toll of having one’s likeness manipulated and shared without consent can be devastating and long-lasting for the victim,” he continued. “We have a duty to ensure our laws provide clear protections against these deeply intimate violations.”

“Today, the Senate took a major step forward in the fight against child pornography and sexually exploitive images,” said Boscola. “This long overdue legislation will provide law enforcement with the tools it needs to combat the rapid expansion of AI technology and its exploitation for vile ends. I applaud my colleagues on their leadership and hard work in getting this done for the children and exploited individuals in Pennsylvania.”

By passing SB 1213, Pennsylvania sends a strong message that it will not tolerate invasive actions against its citizens. This legislation upholds the dignity and safety of all Pennsylvanians by ensuring clear protections against exploiting minors. Senators Pennycuick, Dillon, and Boscola encourage their colleagues in the House of Representatives to support this vital legislation.

Contact Information:

Amanda Applegate (Senator Dillon)

(215) 281-2539

amanda.applegate@pasenate.com

Matt Szuchyt (Senator Pennycuick)

(215) 541-2388

mszuchyt@pasen.gov

Meghan Lago (Senator Boscola)

(610) 868-8667

meghan.lago@pasenate.com