Illinois Governor Signs Law Against AI Child Pornography

CHICAGO (CBS) – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has enacted a significant piece of legislation aimed at combating child pornography created through artificial intelligence. The bill, known as HB4623, was signed into law last Friday and will take effect on January 1. This new law clarifies that existing state laws against child pornography extend to images and videos produced by AI, explicitly prohibiting the creation of such content involving real children or obscene representations. The legislation also addresses the non-consensual sharing of AI-generated sexual images, reflecting a growing concern over the misuse of technology in exploiting minors. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul emphasized the urgency of tackling the challenges posed by AI-generated content, highlighting the long-lasting trauma that child exploitation inflicts on survivors and their families. He reiterated the importance of holding offenders accountable to ensure justice for victims. The issue of AI-generated child pornography is not isolated to Illinois. In Laguna Beach, California, local authorities are investigating incidents involving nude photos of high school students created with AI and circulated among peers. Similarly, in Beverly Hills, five middle school students faced expulsion for producing and distributing AI-generated nude images of classmates, underscoring the widespread nature of this troubling trend. As technology continues to evolve, lawmakers are increasingly recognizing the need for robust legal frameworks to protect children from exploitation and ensure that perpetrators face appropriate consequences.