SIMS Act

This bill would make it a federal crime for a company or person that owns or operates a chatbot to offer one designed to simulate a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct or conversation with a user, when that content is obscene and would break criminal law where it occurs. Willful violations could bring fines of up to $100,000, and the Attorney General could sue for civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation, court orders, and restitution. The Attorney General could grant exemptions to law enforcement agencies investigating child sexual exploitation, and the bill states it does not create liability for ordinary chatbot users or block research testing whether chatbots break the rule. The Attorney General would report yearly to Congress on enforcement, and the law would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Bill Cassidy Republican sponsor
• 3 cosponsors