I have dedicated my advocacy to shining a light on the darkest corners of sexual exploitation. To date, the world has focused on images and videos of real children during abusive encounters. But we are now facing a new frontier: AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM). I’ve spoken about it, written about it, educated on it, and now a bill in Pennsylvania is finally catching up to this threat.
In November 2025, the state Senate unanimously approved legislation that would require mandated reporters to alert investigators about suspected child sexual abuse materials created by artificial intelligence, even if it’s created by or in the possession of a child.
This is not a fringe issue. Among the alarming cases was one in Lancaster County where two students used AI to generate nude images of 48 female classmates and 12 other acquaintances. Because state law did not explicitly cover AI-generated images, school administrators reportedly didn’t report the content.
Let’s unpack why this matters and why I’ve been raising my voice.
Why AI-generated CSAM demands urgent action
- New technology, same harm. The tools have changed, but the damage remains real: children’s likenesses are being used, manipulated, and abused—often without their awareness or consent.
- Legal loopholes = exploitation zones. Until recently in Pennsylvania, if something looked like CSAM but was “AI-generated,” mandated reporters may have had no legal requirement to report it. That gap equals unaccountability.
- Children are extremely vulnerable. If we have learned anything from decades of work on child sexual abuse, it is this: children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults. They cannot consent to having their image used. And when we allow new tools to exploit them, we betray our duty to protect.
- Survivor voices are the first alarm. I have heard from survivors who have seen AI-generated versions of themselves circulating. I have listened to guardians who are terrified of what the next wave of technology will bring. Their voices are the reason we cannot wait.
What Pennsylvania’s bill does and why that’s vital
- The bill specifically expands the definition of mandated reporting to include AI-generated child sexual abuse material, even if created/held by a minor.
- It adds minor-to-minor dissemination of sexually explicit material to the state’s definition of child-on-child abuse.
- Lawmakers from both parties emphasized how rapidly technology is evolving and how statutes must keep pace.
- With a unanimous Senate vote secured, the measure now heads to the House for consideration.
For me, being part of the conversation means making sure this bill isn’t just a headline it becomes law, becomes enforced, and becomes a model for other states.
Why this matters for our entire field of victim advocacy
- Clarity matters. Advocates, law enforcement, mandated reporters, and schools all need unambiguous statutes so that children are protected without delay.
- Prevention is possible. If law catches up to technology, we can stop the circulation of these images, intervene earlier, and reduce harm.
- Survivors must lead. I’ve stood alongside survivors whose trauma is being compounded by the spread of AI-generated abuse. Their lived experience must guide policy.
- We must hold the adults accountable. No longer can adults hide behind “it was AI” or “I didn’t know.” The law must reflect that creating or distributing these images is sexual abuse, even if “only” digital.
What I’m calling on you to do
- Raise awareness. Share this blog. Talk about how AI is weaponized in child sexual abuse. Use #AIforKids or #ProtectKidsFromAI so this issue trends.
- Contact your legislators. If you live in Pennsylvania, reach out to your state House member and say: “Support the bill requiring reporting of AI-generated child sexual abuse material now.”
- Support survivors. Their voices carry the truth. Amplify them. Listen to what they say about how technology touches their trauma.
- Advocate for every state to follow. Pennsylvania is stepping up, but this is a nationwide threat. Let’s push for similar laws across the country.
- Teach young people. Talk with teens and guardians about how AI tools can be misused. Digital literacy isn’t just about screenshots or privacy; it’s about safety and rights.
Final word in my voice
Friends, the technological tide is shifting fast but our moral obligation isn’t. We must protect children from exploitation, whether the harm is coded in silicon or carried out by flesh-and-blood predators. The bill in Pennsylvania is a step forward but we must keep our foot on the gas.
To every survivor speaking out: thank you. Your courage lights the way. You are turning shame into change. You are making a difference.
And to every adult reading this: we have to do better. The next generation deserves laws that reflect their rights, their dignity, and their safety. Let’s make sure they get it. Contact us if you have any concerns.