California AB 1831 (CSAM laws now cover AI-generated/altered material)
California Expansion of Child Pornography Laws to AI-Generated Matter (AB 1831)
California · Cal. Penal Code 311, 311.2, 311.11, 311.12 (AB 1831, Stats. 2024)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- January 1, 2025
- Applies to
- All persons; the statutes prohibit possession, production, and distribution of the covered matter.
- Enforced by
- Local district attorneys and California prosecutors (criminal enforcement).
California broadens its child pornography statutes so they explicitly cover material that is digitally altered or generated by artificial intelligence. Previously the laws were aimed at depictions made with real children, leaving questions about synthetic imagery. Now matter whose production involves a person under 18, including AI-generated or digitally altered content, falls within the prohibited categories and existing felony exposure.
Who is protected: Minors (persons under 18), including against synthetic and AI-generated sexual abuse material.
Legal detail
AB 1831 amended Cal. Penal Code 311, 311.2, 311.11, and 311.12 to bring within prohibited matter any digitally altered or artificial-intelligence-generated matter, the production of which involves the use of a person under 18, extending California's child-pornography offenses to synthetic and altered imagery.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | September 29, 2024 |
| Citation | Cal. Penal Code 311, 311.2, 311.11, 311.12 (AB 1831, Stats. 2024) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Subject to the existing criminal penalties under the amended child-pornography statutes, including felony exposure. |
| Topics | children's online safety · AI-generated images |
| Bill text | California AB 1831 (2023-2024): Crimes: child pornography |
More AI rules in California
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- California AB 489 (AI healthcare chatbot misrepresentation ban) · In effect
- X.AI v. Bonta (AB 2013 training-data disclosure) · Blocked / in litigation
- CA SB 1168 — data center grid cost allocation · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 1119 Adam's Law, companion chatbots (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 867 AI chatbot toy moratorium (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
Related children's online safety rules elsewhere
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Oregon SB 1546 (AI companion chatbot disclosure + private right of action) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Blanchester OH schools AI policy EDEC (Jun. 29, 2026) · In effect
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