EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — In response to growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence, Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez is advocating for legislation aimed at curbing the creation of child sexual abuse material through AI technology.
This initiative follows the indictment of Seth Herrera, a 35-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, accused of using AI to generate explicit content involving children he knew.
“We did hear about that unfortunate story that happened in our local community. And that’s exactly why we’re working on this, these pieces of legislation and working really hard to get them across the finish line,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez has introduced two bills this legislative session. House Bill 581 would allow individuals to sue AI companies for creating sexually explicit content without consent.
House Bill 421 seeks to establish a criminal offense for producing explicit deepfake material of minors, classifying it as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries penalties of up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Local residents expressed strong opinions on the issue.
One soldier described the use of AI for such purposes as “almost demonic,” while a father of two teenage girls said, “It’s wrong no matter how you look at it.”
Gonzalez remains optimistic about the bills’ progress, stating they are advancing well and expressing confidence they will pass before the legislative session concludes in 12 days. She anticipates that as AI technology continues to evolve, new legislation will be necessary to address emerging challenges.
RELATED: El Paso soldier indicted for child exploitation, AI-generated child abuse content
RELATED:El Paso lawmaker introduces bills to shield minors from AI-generated explicit content
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