United States of America: Passed Bill on Child Pornography Crimes (AB 1831)

On 23 May 2024, AB 1831 on Child Pornography Crimes was passed by the California Assembly. The bill proposes amendments to several sections of the Penal Code, focusing on crimes involving child pornography. The proposed amendments include expanding the scope of crimes against the production, distribution, or possession of material depicting minors or what appears to be minors engaging in sexual conduct to include depictions of real or fictional persons under the age of 18 created by artificial intelligence or computer-generated means. The bill also outlines provisions for prosecution, penalties, and the destruction of confiscated material. The legislation aims to update and expand existing laws to regulate the handling of child pornography material, particularly those created through modern technology such as artificial intelligence. The amendments made by the Assembly include striking amendments to sections 311.1, 311.3, 311.4, and 312.3 of the Penal Code.