SANTA FE, NM – In a continued effort to protect children from online predators, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has endorsed the Child Exploitation and Artificial Intelligence Expert Commission Act of 2024. This bipartisan initiative, supported by a coalition of 44 state and territory attorneys general, aims to combat child exploitation crimes facilitated by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).
Attorney General Torrez, along with his colleagues, joined a letter sent by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) to U.S. House leadership, urging the establishment of a commission to investigate and recommend solutions to prevent, detect, and prosecute child exploitation crimes committed using AI. The Act, sponsored by Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and co-sponsored by a bipartisan 16-member coalition, represents a crucial step toward addressing the growing risks posed by AI technologies.
'The creation of this commission is a vital step toward ensuring that the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence do not come at the expense of our children's safety,' said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. 'By working together, we can establish robust measures to prevent and prosecute child exploitation crimes committed through AI, safeguarding our communities and holding offenders accountable.'
The letter highlights the dual nature of AI, noting that while it can be a transformative tool for good, it also carries significant risks. The attorneys general compared AI to tools like knives or hammers, which can be either beneficial or harmful depending on their use. They expressed hope that the commission's work would lead to effective safety measures and updates to existing laws, ensuring children's protection from digital exploitation.
This endorsement follows a September 2023 letter from NAAG, signed by 54 attorneys general, that called for a focused effort to address AI's potential to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The attorneys general emphasized the urgency of this issue, citing AI's ability to create realistic deepfakes and other forms of exploitative content that can severely impact children's physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.
Attorney General Torrez's commitment to child safety extends beyond this endorsement. His office recently filed a landmark lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc., CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and its subsidiaries, including Instagram and Facebook, to combat sexual abuse, online solicitation, and human trafficking. This lawsuit, based on an undercover investigation, revealed that Meta's platforms are being used to direct explicit content to minors, facilitate contact between predators and children, and host groups dedicated to commercial sex.
'Our investigation into Meta’s social media platforms demonstrates that they are not safe spaces for children but rather prime locations for predators to trade child pornography and solicit minors for sex,' said AG Torrez. 'Despite repeated assurances to Congress and the public that they can be trusted to police themselves, it is clear that Meta’s executives continue to prioritize engagement and ad revenue over the safety of the most vulnerable members of our society.'
In a significant legal victory, a judge recently denied Meta's motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to proceed. This decision marks a historic moment in holding social media giants accountable for user safety and underscores the importance of continued vigilance and action.
To further support parents and guardians in protecting their children online, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) has launched initiatives like SMART CHATS (Social Media Awareness Roundtables Creating Healthy Avenues Towards Safety). These resources provide guides, statistics, and other information to help navigate the complexities of internet safety, addressing issues such as cyberbullying, sextortion, and the removal of explicit content.