MONTGOMERY — On Tuesday, the Alabama House passed a consumer protection bill to ban the distribution of illegal sexualized content via artificial intelligence and provide remedies for victims.
State Rep. Ben Harrison (R-Elkmont) said on the House floor that House Bill 347 closes an "unintended immunity loophole" for AI companies and providers and creates a private right of action and removal process for those affected.
According to the bill, "A person commits the crime of distributing a private image if he or she knowingly posts, emails, texts, transmits, or otherwise distributes a private image when the depicted individual has not consented in writing to the transmission and the depicted individual had a reasonable expectation of privacy against transmission of the private image."
It further states that a "private image" includes "a photograph, digital image, video, film, or other recording of an individual who is identifiable from the recording itself or from the circumstances of its transmission and who is engaged in any act of sexually explicit conduct."
Violators could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor for first offenses and with a Class C felony for subsequent infractions.
State Rep. Mark Gidley (R-Hokes Bluff), a bill cosponsor, thanked Harrison for bringing the legislation.
"We realize we have a major problem with the technology of artificial intelligence," Gidley said. "While it can be used for many great things, it can also be used for negative things. When it creates images of people that are sometimes very lewd and illicit images without their permission, that's a problem. This bill creates protection to protect those who will be unduly taken advantage of through this kind of thing."
The bill passed 104-0. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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