Legislation sponsored by Senator Ken Yager to combat the rise of AI-generated child pornography in Tennessee was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee. Senate Bill 741 takes a firm stance against the abuse of artificial intelligence technology to exploit children.
“This law is about keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology to protect our children from unthinkable exploitation,” said Sen. Yager. “Bad actors are using AI to create disturbing and abusive content, and Tennessee is taking a strong stand to stop it.
By criminalizing the tools used to generate AI child pornography, we’re giving law enforcement what they need to pursue offenders and protect victims.”
The law makes it a criminal offense to knowingly possess, distribute or produce any software or technology specifically designed to create or facilitate the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material. The legislation addresses growing concerns over the misuse of advanced AI tools to generate realistic but entirely synthetic images of minors in pornographic contexts.
“When in the wrong hands, artificial intelligence has the ability to make exploitive crimes even worse,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch. “I applaud the general assembly and Governor Lee for seeing the value in strengthening our state’s laws to better protect Tennesseans, and I’m proud our state is leading the way on common sense measures to ensure this emerging technology doesn’t become a dangerous tool for bad actors.”
Dir. Rausch added "I also want to specifically thank Senator Ken Yager for his active engagement with the TBI team to craft this legislation and assure it struck a critical balance of protection and appropriate use of the technology."
Under the new law possession of such tools is classified as a Class E felony; distribution is a Class C felony; and production of AI-generated child sexual abuse material is a Class B felony.
Importantly, the legislation does not ban AI technology or software broadly. It narrowly targets tools built or used with the intent to generate child sexual abuse material, preserving legitimate applications of AI.
"With Governor Lee’s signature, the law will take effect July 1, marking a significant step in Tennessee’s ongoing efforts to protect children and hold predators accountable in the digital age," officials said.