Under Pennsylvania law, all school personnel are mandated reporters required to report child abuse. In 2023, 48 female students at a Lancaster County school and 12 other girls became victims of sexually explicit deepfake images generated by two male classmates using artificial intelligence (AI). School officials were made aware of the abuse but did not report it to the appropriate authorities, revealing a critical protection gap.

Eventually, charges were brought against the offenders, including criminal conspiracy, sexual abuse, and possession of child pornography. However, no charges were brought against the school officials. Under the current language found in Title 23 (Domestic Relations), incidents where a minor disseminates sexually explicit material of another child are not included in the definition of what constitutes child-on-child abuse; therefore, Pennsylvania’s mandated reporter laws did not apply to this incident.

One in eight teens knows someone who has experienced an AI deepfake, and technological advances will only increase this threat. Furthermore, current laws also fail to require reporting for non-artificial images disseminated by a victim’s former intimate partner.

To close the gap in our current mandated reporting laws and protect our children, I will introduce legislation ensuring that all instances of child sexual abuse imagery are recognized and reported to the appropriate authorities. Protecting all children in Pennsylvania begins with this change.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.