The following statement can be attributed to Paul Lekas, Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy, Software & Information Industry Association.
SIIA is pleased to see the Senate passed the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution Act of 2023 (SHIELD Act) that makes it a crime to knowingly mail or distribute (or attempt or threaten to distribute) intimate visual depictions. This is a good first step and demonstrates that Congress can work collaboratively to achieve bipartisan solutions.
We still believe there are additional gaps in the law specific to AI-generated imagery. SIIA recently expressed our support for the DEFIANCE Act that would create a federal civil remedy for victims against individuals who produced or possessed the forgery with intent to distribute it; or who produced, distributed, or received the forgery, if the individual knew or recklessly disregarded that the victim did not consent to the conduct.
We encourage Congress to address this important and critical issue.
