El Paso Lawmaker Pushes for AI Regulation to Combat Child Exploitation
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez is pushing for legislation to combat the misuse of artificial intelligence in creating child sexual abuse material. This move follows the indictment of Seth Herrera, a 35-year-old soldier from Fort Bliss, accused of using AI to generate explicit content involving children he knew.
“We heard about that unfortunate story in our local community, which is why we’re working hard to get these pieces of legislation across the finish line,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez has introduced two bills in this legislative session. House Bill 581 would allow individuals to sue AI companies for creating sexually explicit content without consent. House Bill 421 seeks to establish a criminal offense for producing explicit deepfake material of minors, classifying it as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Local residents have expressed strong opinions on the issue. One soldier described using AI for such purposes as “almost demonic,” while a father of two teenage girls stated, “It’s wrong no matter how you look at it.”
Gonzalez remains optimistic about the bills’ progress, stating they are advancing well and expressing confidence they will pass before the legislative session concludes in 12 days. She anticipates that as AI technology continues to evolve, new legislation will be necessary to address emerging challenges.
