West STL News

Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), along with Representatives Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Steve Cohen (D-TN), has introduced the ENFORCE Act. The legislation aims to address Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) generated or altered using artificial intelligence.

“Child Sexual Abuse Material is an evil that must be purged from our nation.  The rise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made these horrific crimes easier to commit, and it’s time we made sure prosecutors have the necessary tools to fight back against the predators who are exploiting innocent victims.  My ENFORCE Act will ensure AI-generated CSAM is prosecuted and penalized with the same weight as other federal sex crimes. The world is constantly changing with AI, and predators and child abusers are adapting to these new technologies. It is imperative that our laws are properly updated to meet the moment so victims are protected and abusers are held accountable,” said Congresswoman Wagner.

Congressman Van Drew added: “The rise of AI-generated child exploitation is sickening, and it is happening even faster than most people realize. We have a responsibility to make sure our laws keep up with this technology so that predators can be held fully accountable. This bill gives law enforcement the tools they need to properly go after these crimes and protect our kids. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in introducing this important bill.”

Congressman Cohen stated: “The prevalence of computer-generated, AI-enhanced child pornography is astounding and must be combatted effectively. The ENFORCE Act will give prosecutors the tools they need to address this offensive material and to hold those who produce, possess and distribute these heinous materials responsible.”

Organizations supporting the legislation include RAVEN, National Children’s Alliance, Child Rescue Coalition, and the National District Attorneys Association.

Jennifer Dunton, Director of Legislative Affairs at RAVEN, said: “The ENFORCE Act ensures that offenders who produce obscene content involving minors, whether through deepfakes or generative AI, are finally held accountable in the same way as those prosecuted under existing child sexual abuse material laws. Our laws must reflect the reality that digital abuse causes real harm. This bill gives prosecutors the tools they need, to include mandatory sex offender registration, to respond effectively and pursue these crimes with the seriousness they demand.”

Teresa Huizar, CEO of National Children’s Alliance, stated: "Kids are sexually abused and exploited online 10 times every second, and AI image generators are expanding the scope of the problem at an alarming rate. This much needed bill updates federal law to ensure that AI generated and AI modified images are treated and prosecuted as CSAM. This change is critical because AI generated CSAM is not a victimless crime, often using images that victimize real children. We thank Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) for her continued leadership in fighting to protect kids online, and thank her and Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) for introducing the ENFORCE Act, and urge all Members of the House to cosponsor this bill and for its swift passage.”

Greg Schiller, CEO of Child Rescue Coalition said: "The ENFORCE Act is a critical step forward in protecting children from the growing threat of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. By empowering prosecutors with stronger laws, victim protection, sentencing structure, and sex offender registration requirements, the legislation fills dangerous gaps in our current system on this issue. As a former federal prosecutor, I am acutely aware that these changes would have certainly helped our investigations into GAI – a problem that increasingly affects us all. Child Rescue Coalition - an organization that is dedicated to helping law enforcement worldwide in identifying predators rescuing victims through cutting-edge technology—recognizes that the ENFORCE Act amplifies those efforts on a national scale. We urge Congress to pass the ENFORCE Act without delay to give our children the protection they urgently deserve."

Nelson Bunn of National District Attorneys Association commented: “The ENFORCE Act helps prosecutors combat the proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) and deep fake Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) by closing critical statutory loopholes such as requiring GAI CSAM crimes to receive the same sentencing as other CSAM offenses and removing the statute of limitation on these crimes. With these tools prosecutors across the country can better pursue child abuse offenders and protect our most vulnerable.”

Ann Wagner has represented Missouri's 2nd district in Congress since 2013 https://wagner.house.gov/about/full-biography-1 . She succeeded Todd Akin after his departure from office.

Wagner was born in St Louis in 1962 https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/who-is-ann-wagner/article_59eb27c4-1838-5e15-b05a-faeefc88b5ed.html , graduated from University of Missouri in 1984 https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/who-is-ann-wagner/article_59eb27c4-1838-5e15-b05a-faeefc88b5ed.html , and currently lives in Ballwin.