AUGUSTA – Last week, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to pass a measure sponsored by Rep. Amy Kuhn, D-Falmouth, that would increase protections for Maine’s children against AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
“The Legislature can and must take action to prevent the creation and dissemination of AI-generated child sexual abuse material,” said Rep. Kuhn. “This isn’t a partisan issue. LD 524 will provide the safeguards necessary to protect Maine’s children from this emerging form of exploitation using this new technology.”
As artificial intelligence (AI) has become more advanced and prevalent, the technology is being used to create, manipulate and disseminate explicit images, sometimes involving children.
This type of incident occurred in Maine last summer when a man attended a children’s soccer game, took pictures, and manipulated them to produce obscene images. Police knew who he was and that this was happening, but could not charge him with a crime under Maine law.
As amended, LD 524, which was carried over from the first session of the 132nd Legislature, will update state law to close current loopholes and better reflect the seriousness of the harm that can be caused in the current digital landscape.
The measure will face votes in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
Kuhn is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents part of Falmouth. She is the House chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary.