WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) are launching a bipartisan inquiry to protect children from online sex abuse content generated by artificial intelligence.

This week, Senators Blackburn and Ossoff, Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, are calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase resources needed to prosecute cases involving the creation of child sex abuse material (CSAM) through artificial intelligence technology.

“DOJ officials who combat child exploitation say that such images still violate federal child protection laws, even if the child shown is AI-generated. According to reports, however, the officials were unable to cite any cases where a suspect had been charged for creating one. Given the proliferation of AI-generated CSAM, the absence of charges or successful prosecutions raises concerns about the effectiveness of our current legal framework in combating this heinous crime,” wrote the senators.

According to experts, the quick development of artificial intelligence has enabled predators to create and distribute AI-generated CSAM online, adding more challenges to law enforcement agencies working to help victims of child abuse.

These alarming developments are now a growing threat for vulnerable citizens and are raising concerns about the effectiveness of the current efforts by the DOJ to combat this crime. 

This year, Senators Blackburn and Ossoff also introduced the bipartisan REPORT Act to combat the rise in child sexual abuse material online, which passed the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and is a step closer to becoming law.

Please find Blackburn and Ossoff’s bipartisan inquiry to the DOJ here.