We call upon the United States Congress to immediately strengthen federal law concerning artificial-intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material.

Advances in artificial intelligence now allow individuals to create realistic sexual images depicting children without photographing an actual act of abuse. Although existing federal law prohibits many computer-generated depictions—including images involving identifiable children and images indistinguishable from real children—recent court decisions have exposed dangerous gaps involving entirely synthetic material.

The sexualization of children should not become acceptable simply because artificial intelligence created the image. This material can normalize the exploitation of children, be used for grooming, overwhelm investigators searching for real victims, and create markets and communities centered on child sexual abuse.

We urge Congress to enact carefully written, constitutionally sound legislation that:

Prohibits the intentional creation, possession, distribution, sale, and solicitation of realistic AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
Clearly covers AI-generated and digitally manipulated images depicting identifiable real children.
Holds individuals accountable when they knowingly use AI systems to produce or distribute this material.
Requires AI companies to implement reasonable safeguards, reporting systems, and rapid-removal procedures.
Protects legitimate medical, scientific, educational, and law-enforcement activities without creating loopholes for sexual exploitation.
Provides resources to the FBI, Department of Justice, and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to identify victims and investigate AI-enabled exploitation.
Establishes meaningful criminal penalties while ensuring that legislation is precisely written to withstand constitutional review.
Artificial intelligence must never become a shield for the sexualization or exploitation of children. Technology may change, but our responsibility to protect children does not.

We demand immediate bipartisan action to close the gaps in federal law and place child safety above technological convenience and profit.

Reports and studies by leading child protection organizations highlight the rising threat. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, reports of online child exploitation soared during the pandemic, with many cases involving AI-generated content. This is not merely a future problem but a current crisis, impacting thousands of children across the nation and much more globally.

Our demand is simple yet urgent: we call upon the United States Congress for immediate bipartisan legislation to amend and strengthen the federal laws against child sexual abuse material, explicitly including AI-generated content as prosecutable under current statutes. We implore Congress to work together, set aside political differences, and act swiftly to protect our children. Let us ensure that AI does not become a tool for harm, but rather a force for protection and good.

Join us in compelling Congress to place child safety above technological convenience and profit. This is a fight for our children, for their future, and for the integrity of our society. By signing this petition, you become a part of a crucial movement to amend the gaps in our laws, protect innocent lives, and hold offenders accountable.