President Biden Experiences Deep-Fake Shock as AI-Generated Sexual Material Raises Concern in South Dakota

PIERRE, S.D. – Deep-fake videos and images have become a growing concern, raising questions about the authenticity of what we see and hear. Even President Biden has been affected by this technology, as he expressed surprise after watching a manipulated recording of himself. The issue has also gained attention in South Dakota, where Attorney General Marty Jackley is pushing for legislation to combat the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating child pornography.

In Washington state, an alarming incident unfolded as a high school student used AI to alter pictures of female classmates, resulting in the creation and distribution of explicit images. However, the situation in South Dakota has taken an even darker turn, involving cases of child pornography generated solely through AI without a real victim. Jackley is determined to make it a criminal offense, aligning state law with federal statutes that address deep-fakes and the creation of explicit content using AI technology.

Jackley emphasizes the urgency of this legislation, highlighting the challenges he currently faces in prosecuting those involved in such crimes. Despite encountering several cases in South Dakota, where wrongdoing was observed, the limitations of existing statutes prevented further action. As a result, federal authorities were brought in for assistance. The legislation aims to empower law enforcement by updating state laws to combat this emerging threat.

While South Dakota already boasts robust legislation against child pornography, the new AI Pornography legislation seeks to address the specific challenges posed by deep-fake technology. The proposed legislation successfully passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now headed to the full Senate for consideration.

By addressing this issue head-on, South Dakota aims to protect potential victims and enhance law enforcement’s ability to combat AI-generated child pornography. The potential consequences of these crimes, even without a real victim involved, have prompted the state to take a firm stance on this growing problem. With the passage of the AI Pornography legislation, South Dakota hopes to set a precedent in dealing with the evolving threats posed by technology to safeguard its communities.