SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House unanimously passed a plan Thursday to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence to create child pornography that involves real children or obscene imagery.
The proposal also prohibits non-consensual dissemination of certain AI generated sexual images. Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) explained Thursday that bad actors could use AI technology to make images of Illinois children and cause significant harm to their reputation, emotional health and privacy.
"While no real child may be harmed with AI-generated content, the harm is that it normalizes abusive behavior mainly when it purports to depict the sexual abuse of a child," Gong-Gershowitz said.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said child pornography is a reprehensible crime that victimizes children and their families each time images are downloaded or shared. Raoul stressed that the state must stop the generation of any pornography material involving children.
"House Bill 4623 is a vital piece of legislation that will help bring our existing sex offender laws up to speed with this rapidly evolving technology," Gong-Gershowitz said. "I thank the Attorney General and his staff for their hard work on this legislation."
The measure now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Senators could discuss the plan when they return to Springfield later this month.
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