ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF BILL REGARDING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF BILL REGARDING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

May 26, 2024

Raoul Encourages Governor to Sign Legislation to Prohibit Use of AI to Create Child Pornography that Involves Real Children or Obscene Imagery

Springfield - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today applauded the Illinois Senate's unanimous passage of his legislation to clarify that Illinois' child pornography laws apply to images and videos created by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The measure builds on the work being done by Attorney General Raoul's office, in collaboration with state and federal law enforcement agencies, to crack down on child pornography throughout Illinois.

Attorney General Raoul initiated House Bill (HB) 4623, which is sponsored by Sen. Mary Edly-Allen, to address the use of AI-generated child pornography. The legislation prohibits the use of AI technology to create child pornography that either involves real children or obscene imagery. The bill also separately prohibits the nonconsensual dissemination of certain AI-generated sexual images.

"I initiated this legislation because AI-generated child pornography is an increasing concern, and it is one that we need to get addressed before the technology outpaces our ability to distinguish between AI images and images of real children," Raoul said. "Just like child sexual abuse images containing real children, AI-generated child pornography is used by predators to lure and groom minors and to normalize their own reprehensible behavior and child sexual abuse. We must be able to address AI-generated child sexual abuse images the same way existing law covers images of actual children. As policymakers, we have a responsibility to protect our children from the trauma of exploitation, and this is a critical step in the right direction."

Experts from the Attorney General's office previously testified before legislative committees to explain technological advances that have enabled the creation of realistic, computer-generated images and videos of children, and to highlight the ways in which AI-generated child pornography is harmful. When AI technology uses images of real children to generate child pornography, the children who are depicted experience real reputational, emotional and privacy injuries. However, even when the technology does not use images of real children, the resulting child pornography nonetheless perpetuates abusive and predatory behavior.

"We must protect our children and implement strong regulations as new threats are constantly developing with unregulated AI programs," said Edly-Allen. "I commend Attorney General Raoul and State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz for their tireless efforts to ensure the safety and protection of current and future generations."

Raoul's office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child pornography, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2023, reports to the ICAC increased by 46% over 2022.

Illinois' ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 185 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has received more than 40,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 720 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,010 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and law enforcement professionals.

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at CyberTipline.com and child abuse at dcfsOnlineReporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at ChildrensAdvocacyCentersofIllinois.org.