Teens, Parents, and Tech Take Center Stage in New AI Laws
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two groundbreaking bills Sunday to tackle AI-generated child exploitation, marking a major step in regulating technology that's outpacing U.S. laws 📜. The move comes as deepfake nudes of middle schoolers made headlines earlier this year in Beverly Hills, exposing gaps in digital protections.
🔍 Why It Matters: Current laws couldn't prosecute AI-generated child abuse content unless prosecutors proved real children were depicted—a nearly impossible standard. The new laws make all AI child sexual abuse material illegal, whether real kids are involved or not.
\"Every AI-generated image retraumatizes real survivors,\" said Assembly member Marc Berman, one bill's author. \"This stops predators from hiding behind code.\"
Beyond School Scandal: A National Trend
California joins nearly 30 states racing to update laws as AI tools like \"undress apps\" flood social media. While the Golden State focuses on minors, critics argue new revenge porn rules should also protect teens—current laws only punish adults sharing nonconsensual deepfakes.
💡 Quick Fact: Researchers report a 200% spike in AI-generated child abuse content since 2022, with some tools trained on real victim photos.
What's Next?
While Newsom touts California as an AI innovation hub (think: using chatbots for tax help 🧾), these laws position the state as a digital watchdog. But as DA George Gascon warns: \"Without consequences for minors too, we're only solving half the problem.\"
