Kentucky HB 207 (2024) — Computer-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
Kentucky · 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 15 (HB 207); KRS 531.010, 531.306, eff. July 15, 2024
Kentucky expanded its child sexual abuse material laws to cover 'computer-generated' images, defined as any visual depiction that has been created, adapted, or modified by a computer to appear to be an identifiable person. Because the depiction only has to appear to be a minor, prosecutors do not have to prove the real identity or age of the child, or that the child actually exists, when the material is a computer-generated image. This squarely reaches AI-generated and deepfake child sexual abuse imagery.
Technical detail
2024 Ky. Acts ch. 15 (HB 207) amended KRS 531.010 to define 'computer-generated image' as any visual depiction 'created, adapted, or modified by a computer to appear to be an identifiable person,' and created KRS 531.306 providing that in prosecutions involving a computer-generated image of a minor the Commonwealth need not prove the minor's actual identity, age, or existence.
Who is protected: Children depicted in or simulated by sexual abuse material, including those whose likeness is used to generate AI/computer-created imagery.
Who must comply: Anyone who creates, possesses, distributes, promotes, or advertises child sexual abuse material, including computer-generated images.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2024-07-15 |
| Enacted | 2024-03-28 |
| Citation | 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 15 (HB 207); KRS 531.010, 531.306, eff. July 15, 2024 |
| Enforced by | Kentucky Commonwealth's/County Attorneys and the Kentucky Attorney General (criminal prosecution); Kentucky courts. |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Existing criminal penalties for the underlying child sexual abuse material offenses (KRS 531.300-531.370) apply to computer-generated images; HB 207 also raised certain penalty tiers. |
| Topics | children's online safety · AI-generated images |
| Last verified | 2026-06-16 |
| Official source | Kentucky Legislature — 2024 Acts Chapter 15 (HB 207) ↗ |
More AI rules in Kentucky
- Kentucky Consumer Data Protection Act · In effect
- Kentucky SB 4 (AI Governance) · In effect
- Commonwealth Office of Technology Enterprise Policy CIO-126: · 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) · In effect
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Washington HB 2225 (AI chatbot disclosure, minor protections, crisis protocols) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- 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
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