Grassroots to Government: Building Legislation Against Generative AI CSAM

In recent years, the rapid advancement of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has posed unique challenges across various sectors, notably in digital content creation. This technology, while innovative, has facilitated the rise of ‘deepfakes’, a form of synthetic media where a person’s likeness is convincingly altered. Particularly alarming is the use of GenAI to create Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), an egregious violation of rights and a profound ethical breach. This presentation will explore the legislative landscape necessary to combat the misuse of AI technologies in creating and distributing deepfake CSAM.

We will delve into existing statutes, such as those in Virginia and Texas, and proposed federal laws which have pioneered in addressing nonconsensual deepfakes by amending revenge porn and child pornography laws to include AI-generated content. This presentation explores the journey of an individual, initially outside the traditional legal and political arenas, who engages in the legislative process to address the pressing issue of AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The lecture will detail the speaker’s transition from a concerned citizen to an influential advocate for change, highlighting the role of grassroots movements in shaping state and local legislation.