Governor Signs Law Backed By Ventura County DA That Bans A-I Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material

Tuesday October 01, 2024

(Photo courtesy VCDA)

     Governor Newsom has signed legislation co-sponsored by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko that bans Artificial Intelligence created child sexual abuse material of any kind.

      Assembly Bill 1831 by Assemblyman Mark Berman will make the creation and possession of child pornography using A-I generated images of children just as illegal and just as punishable as child sexual abuse material that uses real children.

     Supporters say that whether it is a real child or a computer generated child, its destructive impact on society and its children is just as bad and can lead to an increase in the sexual abuse of real children.

     The legislation was inspired by what happened to Ventura County resident Kaylin Hayman (pictured above with Nasarenko).

     Hayman was a former Disney actress who was victimized by a Pennsylvania man who created child sexual abuse material using A-I to put her face on sexually explicit images.

     She testified in the federal court case that sent the man to prison for 14 years but at the time the man's actions were not punishable under California state law.

     This legislation closes that loophole.

     Hayman was a strong public advocate for AB 1831 and testified in favor of the legislation several times as it made its way through the California legislature.