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LD 230

An Act To Protect Minors From Harmful Depictions Generated By Artificial Intelligence

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dick Campbell

Maine bill criminalizes creation and distribution of AI-generated sexual or violent imagery depicting minors to combat emerging technology-based child exploitation risks.

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
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Bill Summary · LD 230

Legislative bill overview

LD 230 seeks to establish legal protections against the creation and distribution of artificially generated sexual or violent imagery depicting minors. The bill addresses an emerging technology concern by creating prohibitions and potentially enforcement mechanisms around deepfake and AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and violent content.

Why is this important

AI-generated child exploitation material poses significant harms: it can normalize child abuse, be used for grooming, create markets for abuse without directly victimizing existing children (a legal gray area in some jurisdictions), and is extremely difficult to detect and remove at scale. The lack of federal clarity on AI-generated CSAM has left states considering their own protections.

Potential points of contention

  • First Amendment questions: Whether bans on AI-generated imagery (versus real harm) survive constitutional scrutiny when no actual child is depicted or harmed
  • Definition challenges: How broadly to define "harmful depictions" and "artificial intelligence" without capturing legitimate educational, research, or artistic uses
  • Enforcement practicality: How to identify and prosecute AI-generated content without creating surveillance mechanisms or holding platforms liable for user-generated material
  • Comparison to federal law: Whether state action duplicates or conflicts with potential federal CSAM legislation and interstate commerce implications

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

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