TRAPPE – The PA Senate Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing and heard from law enforcement officials and child advocacy organizations in their support for strengthening laws and education about the harm artificial intelligence or AI can bring to children. Testifiers praised Senate Bill 1050 which would require mandated reporters to report all instances of child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated images, they become aware of, as a step to protect PA children from exploitation. Bill supporters say children are being targeted in new ways not possible a few years ago. AI-generated sexual material, deepfake pornography, AI chatbots creating harmful content, and online predators using technology to manipulate and exploit is the new reality. The public hearing helped lawmakers identify what new guardrails are needed to ensure children are safe online.
