Attorney General Alan Wilson has expressed his approval following the passage of Senate Bills 28 and 29 by the General Assembly. These bills are designed to criminalize the creation, possession, and distribution of AI-generated sexual images without consent. The legislation now awaits Governor Henry McMaster’s signature.
“This is a major victory for victims and a major blow to predators who think they can hide behind a keyboard,” stated Attorney General Wilson. He emphasized South Carolina’s leadership in addressing the misuse of artificial intelligence for exploitation purposes. “These bills give us the teeth we need to go after the sick individuals using AI to create fake pornography of real people, many of them women and children.”
The bills provide definitions for “morphed images,” describing them as digitally created or altered explicit images depicting individuals in acts they did not participate in.
Wilson collaborated with lawmakers throughout this legislative session and previously to advance these bills. “This was a team effort. I personally worked with legislators from both chambers and the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children to draft and improve these bills,” he said. He also thanked lawmakers who prioritized victim support, stating, “Together, we’re making South Carolina the model for how to fight AI-fueled exploitation.”
Beyond state efforts, Wilson has taken action at the federal level as well. On September 5, 2023, he led a bipartisan coalition involving all 50 states and four territories urging Congress to investigate AI’s role in creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and develop preventive legislation.
For further details on his federal initiative: https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/attorney-general-alan-wilson-urges-congress-to-study-ai-and-its-harmful-effects-on-children/
