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S 48

An Act relative to AI-generated child sexual abuse material

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Moore

Massachusetts bill criminalizes creation, distribution, and possession of artificially-generated child sexual abuse material with penalties comparable to real CSAM offenses.

Accompanied a new draft, see S2633
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Bill Summary · S 48

Legislative bill overview

S.48 addresses the creation, distribution, and possession of artificially-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in Massachusetts. The bill establishes criminal penalties for producing, distributing, or possessing synthetic CSAM, treating it similarly to traditional CSAM under state law.

Why is this important

AI-generated CSAM exploits the appearance of minors without requiring actual victims, yet facilitates normalization of child sexual abuse and creates demand for real abuse material. Current Massachusetts law has gaps regarding synthetic CSAM, making this legislation necessary to close enforcement loopholes as technology advances.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional clarity: Questions about how "AI-generated" or "synthetic" CSAM is precisely defined—whether it includes all altered images or only fully generated ones, and how to distinguish from artistic expression
  • Prosecution feasibility: Technical challenges in detecting and proving synthetic origin of images, potentially placing heavy burdens on law enforcement resources
  • Free speech concerns: Potential tensions between restricting harmful content and protecting legitimate uses of generative AI technology in research, education, or non-sexual contexts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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