In an urgent plea to Congress, the top prosecutors from the 50 US states have banded together to warn of the rising danger of child abuse by artificial intelligence (AI).
The attorneys general sent a convincing letter to Republican and Democratic House and Senate leaders demanding the creation of an expert committee to explore how AI might hurt children and to legally prohibit AI-generated child sexual abuse materials.
The letter emphasizes the need for immediate action from authorities, stating, "We are engaged in a race against time to protect the children of our country from the dangers of AI. Indeed, the proverbial walls of the city have already been breached. Now is the time to act," as reported by AP News.
Republican South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson organized support for the anti-child exploitation campaign from all 50 states and four US territories and believes protecting kids from AI should be a bipartisan concern.
Public Calls for Robust Protection Against AI Abuse
This year, the US Senate has already held hearings on the possible dangers presented by AI-related technology. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and other prominent players in the IT sector have emphasized the need for government engagement to reduce the potential hazards of more powerful AI systems. To ensure that the most powerful AI systems adhere to safety regulations, Altman suggested creating a US or international body.
The US Congress has not yet created comprehensive AI rules similar to those in Europe, but mounting public worry has spurred American authorities to promise a crackdown on AI tools that flout already-existing consumer protection and human rights laws.
Attorney General Wilson is urging his colleagues in other states to review their legislation for possible areas of concern in addition to federal action. The letter worries about "deepfake" situations when AI creates videos and photographs of child abuse.
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Although they may not strictly include the abuse of actual children, these unsettlingly realistic AI-generated materials might pose legal difficulties. Wilson explained that in the case of the AI-generated materials, children were not attacked and abused physically, "but their likeness is being used as if they were."
Laws Must Evolve as Technology Advances
AI tools, including Stable Diffusion, originally intended to generate visuals for art and design, are being abused by some to produce child exploitation materials. The technology, which creates realistic images from text inputs, is utilized to create wholly fictional photos of kids specifically for the production of child porn. Even if the victims are wholly digital constructs, this activity adds to the desire for a sector that takes advantage of minors.
South Carolina Attorney General Wilson underscored the importance of staying ahead of technological advancements, stating, "The bad guys are always evolving on how they can slip off the hook of justice, and we have to evolve with that," as quoted in a report from The Daily Record.
While the US attorneys general call for legislation against AI-enabled child exploitation, reports of such material have arisen worldwide. According to the BBC, AI-generated photos of child sexual abuse, including gross actions against newborns and toddlers, have reportedly been found by police internet child abuse investigation teams in the UK.
To address the growing problem, several IT businesses have taken action. Meta, OnlyFans, and Pornhub have all expressed support for the "Take It Down" program, which enables teenagers to report graphic images and videos of themselves posted online, including artificial intelligence-generated content. However, to address the larger issue, extensive legislative measures are necessary.
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