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AI Laws in South Carolina
As of 2026-08-12, AI Laws USA tracks 11 AI rules in South Carolina: 6 state-level rules and 5 county or city rules. Federal AI protections apply statewide on top of these — see the federal page. Each entry links to its official source.
South Carolina state-level AI rules (6)
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
SC H 4591 Stop HARM from Addictive Social Media Act (2026)
SC · Effective 2027-01-01 · S.C. H 4591 (126th G.A., 2026) — signed May 19, 2026; eff. Jan. 1, 2027
South Carolina H 4591, the Stop HARM from Addictive Social Media Act, prohibits social media platforms from deploying addictive algorithmic design features to users under 18. Covered platforms must disable infinite scroll, autoplay, and similar compulsive-engagement features for minor users without parental consent; must not push notifications to minors during school hours (7 AM–3 PM) or late night (10 PM–6 AM) without parental authorization; and may not use algorithmic recommendation systems that exploit minors' psychological vulnerabilities to drive engagement. Platforms must implement age verification. Signed May 19, 2026; effective January 1, 2027.
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In effect
SC H 3431 Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (2026)
SC · Effective 2026-03-01 · S.C. H 3431 (126th G.A., 2026) — signed Feb. 5, 2026; eff. March 1, 2026
South Carolina H 3431, the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, requires online platforms and services likely to be accessed by children under 18 to prioritize children's best interests. Covered companies must conduct data protection impact assessments before launching features accessible to minors, set privacy controls to their highest protective level by default for child users, minimize data collection, prohibit profiling children for commercial purposes without verifiable parental consent, and disclose how algorithms affect what content children see. Signed by Governor McMaster February 5, 2026; operational March 1, 2026.
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In effect
SC AI CSAM / Deepfake Laws
South Carolina · Effective 2025-05-27 · SC S.28, Act No. 57; SC S.29, Act No. 58 (2025), 126th Gen. Assembly, enacted May 27, 2025
South Carolina enacted two companion laws in May 2025 to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Act 57 (S.28) closes loopholes excluding AI-generated CSAM from existing child exploitation statutes. Act 58 (S.29) creates a new felony offense for 'obscene visual representation of a minor,' covering wholly computer-generated sexual depictions where no real child exists.
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In effect
South Carolina State Agencies' Artificial Intelligence (AI)
South Carolina · Effective 2024-06-19 · South Carolina State Agencies' Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy
The South Carolina Department of Administration published a statewide AI strategy rooted in 'protect, promote, pursue' that establishes a Center of Excellence and AI Advisory Group and directs development of statewide acceptable-use, procurement, and data-protection policies for agencies.
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In effect
South Carolina 40-57-820 (realtors accountable for AI-assisted work)
South Carolina · Effective 2024-05-21 · S.C. Code Ann. 40-57-820, enacted by 2024 Act No. 204 (H.4754), approved May 21, 2024
South Carolina makes licensed real estate professionals fully responsible for any work product they create with the help of artificial intelligence, machine learning, or similar tools. If a violation of the real estate licensing law is committed using such tools, it is treated as though the licensee committed it directly. Licensees must double-check AI-assisted work for compliance with advertising, intellectual property, confidentiality, and related rules.
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Proposed / pending
Large Load Tariff Docket Opened via Duke Energy Progress/Car
Public Service Commission of South Carolina · Large Load Tariff Docket Opened via Duke Energy Progress/Carolinas Settlements
Settlements with Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas require the South Carolina PSC to open a large load tariff docket that could establish consumer protections ensuring incremental data-center costs are not shifted onto residential and traditional business customers.
County and city AI rules in South Carolina (5)
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In effect
Newberry County SC 12-month data center moratorium (confirmed July 15, 2026)
Newberry County, SC · Effective 2026-07-15 · Newberry County, SC Council unanimous final confirmation, July 15, 2026, 12-month data center permit moratorium
Newberry County, South Carolina finalized a year-long moratorium on data center permits on July 15, 2026, with a unanimous county council confirmation vote. The moratorium first passed in June 2026 and blocks new data center permits while the county studies regulations.
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In effect
Chester County SC data center pause (2026)
Chester County, SC · Effective 2026-06-15 · Chester County, S.C. Ordinance No. 2026-14
Ordinance No. 2026-14 bars any Chester County official, employee, board or commission from accepting, processing or approving any application for a Data Center Development. Section 2 defines that term to include rezonings, planned developments, text or map amendments, special exceptions, variances, subdivisions, site plans, land development, utility and building permit approvals for data centers, server farms, colocation facilities, cryptocurrency or digital asset mining operations, and artificial intelligence computing facilities. Section 4 directs planning staff and outside experts to prepare use-specific standards covering permitted districts, separation, setbacks, screening, buffering, electric and water adequacy, noise limits, and decommissioning and financial assurance. Section 9 adopts the pending ordinance doctrine, applies the ordinance from first reading, and terminates it on the earlier of repeal or 2026-12-31 unless extended.
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In effect
One-year moratorium on new data center applications
Spartanburg County, SC · Effective 2026-06-22 · One-year moratorium on new data center applications
Spartanburg County Council passed first reading of a one-year data center moratorium and invoked the pending-ordinance doctrine to immediately freeze new applications, pending the second and third readings required for final adoption.
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Proposed / pending
Ordinance imposing a moratorium on land use and development
Colleton County, SC · Ordinance imposing a moratorium on land use and development approvals for data centers
Colleton County Council voted unanimously on first reading to approve a six-month moratorium on special exceptions, conditional use and other land use approvals for data centers while it updates its Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code.
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Proposed / pending
Greenwood County SC data center moratorium, Ord. 2026-25 (third reading July 21, 2026)
Greenwood County, SC · Greenwood County, SC Ordinance 2026-25 (data center moratorium), second reading 4-3, July 7, 2026; third reading July 21, 2026
Greenwood County, South Carolina is two-thirds of the way to a data center moratorium. On July 7, 2026 the county council advanced Ordinance 2026-25 — a data center moratorium — on second reading by a narrow 4-3 vote, and by the same 4-3 margin rejected a separate zoning text amendment (2026-19) that would have set data center rules. A third and final reading is set for July 21, 2026.
South Carolina city guides
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