Independent MP Introduces Bill to Criminalise AI Child Abuse Tools in Australia

Independent Australian MP Kate Chaney has introduced a bill aimed at criminalizing the possession, use, and distribution of artificial intelligence tools specifically designed to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The legislation seeks to close a significant gap in Australia's Criminal Code by targeting AI technology that offenders use to generate illegal images, often deleting the original child abuse material to avoid detection. Chaney emphasized the urgency of the bill, noting the rapid evolution of AI technology and the need for swift legislative action to protect children and maintain public trust in AI. The bill also proposes penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment and includes provisions to criminalize scraping or distributing data intended to train such AI tools. This move follows a recent roundtable on AI-facilitated child exploitation and has been welcomed by advocacy groups concerned about the real harm caused to children in the creation of such AI-generated content. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has acknowledged the legal gap, underscoring the bill's importance amid the growing accessibility and offline distribution of these AI tools.