Bill Strengthening Protections For Kids Victimized By "Deep Fakes" Passes PA House

BUCKS COUNTY, PA – Legislation introduced by State Reps. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) and Nikki Rivera (D-Lancaster) to strengthen protections for children victimized by AI-generated sexually explicit images passed unanimously from the PA House of Representatives this week.

House Bill 2474 would require schools and other mandated reporters to immediately notify law enforcement when they become aware of suspected child sexual abuse material involving artificial intelligence-generated “deepfake” images. The bill aims to prevent delays that can allow harmful material to continue spreading and additional victims to be targeted.

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Marcell and Rivera said the legislation came in response to incidents in Bucks and Lancaster counties where students used artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of classmates.

“Unfortunately, this legislation was born out of deeply troubling events that occurred not in some distant place, but in our own communities,” said Marcell. “In Bucks County, a middle school student used AI to create explicit images of classmates, and those images were shared among students. The school chose to conduct its own internal review before contacting police. That delay had consequences for both the investigation and victims.”

A similar case in Lancaster County occurred in Rivera’s district. It involved nearly 60 students who became victims of sexually explicit deepfake images created by classmates over several months, despite school officials learning about the situation earlier.

“House Bill 2474 addresses this gap. It ensures that when incidents like this occur, they are reported to law enforcement immediately - where they belong,” said Marcell. “Thank you to Rep. Nikki Rivera for her work on this important bill. I look forward to working with the PA Senate to pass this legislation in the coming months.”

Under House Bill 2474, mandated reporting requirements would explicitly apply to suspected AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The legislation is intended to remove uncertainty about reporting obligations and ensure law enforcement becomes involved immediately.

Rep. Kristin Marcell represents House District 178, which includes much of Northampton Township and all of Wrightstown, Warwick and Upper Southampton townships.