1. United States
2. Letter

Texas is poised to pass SB 20, a bill created in response to AI-generated CSEM. I take issue with provisions in the law that would ban cartoons, anime, manga, and other purely fictional depictions. I agree with the section that targets the use of images of children. But as it is currently written, it would take a sledgehammer to the First Amendment's protections. All the while failing to protect minors from being exploited by bad actors in their communities. NCOSE, a supporter of the bill, admitted that the purpose of the bill is to ban all pornography. One of the leaders of the organization said this in a video she uploaded. There was no mention at all of protecting minors. Texas' age verification law has also failed to protect children. It has not been subjected to strict scrutiny. If it had been, it would have adequately protected kids. There are numerous news reports of such individuals still being allowed to do this. It also would have been harder for members of the religious community to produce AI-made CSEM. There are numerous news reports of such individuals still being allowed to do this. And law-abiding citizens are being punished with mandatory ID and face scans. These scans are done with insecure software systems that get hacked. Identities wind up stolen and people get scammed in the process. And in states with these bans, the rate of child abuse and CSEM made with kids has increased.