New NC bills would crack down on AI 'sexual extortion,' take more teens out of juvenile court
North Carolina Republicans unveiled proposals Tuesday for a number of new crimes they wish to create, including one targeted at using artificial intelligence to create sexualized images of people.
That idea is spearheaded by Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, whose bill would create a new crime called sexual extortion. It would make it a crime to threaten to publish — or refuse to delete — a nude photo of someone in order to force that person to do something against their will.
The bill, a new version of House Bill 591, would also make it illegal to do that not just with real nude photos, but also with any AI-generated images.
Galey said the bill is an attempt to modernize the state’s sex crime laws as technology advances. It would also make it a crime to own, sell or create a sex doll made to look like a minor, and would outlaw AI-generated images intended to mimic child pornography.
Democratic state lawmakers have filed a separate bill, House Bill 880, to ban AI-generated "deepfakes" in political advertising within 90 days of an election. WRAL reported earlier this year that although elections administrators have been ringing alarm bills about AI misinformation in this year's elections, the state legislature's Republican leadership has so far shown no indication that it will take action.
Galey’s bill was one of three up for discussion Tuesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. All were only up for discussion, with no votes.
Another bill, House Bill 237 backed by Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, would create new crimes, and enact harsher penalties, targeting protesters — specifically those who block roads or wear masks.
A third bill, House Bill 834, would make it easier for teenagers to be tried in adult court.
Teen offenders
North Carolina was the last state in the country to still automatically charge all 16- and 17-year olds as adults, until 2017, when the legislature passed a “Raise the Age” law allowing discretion on whether to charge them as minors or as adults.
Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson, introduced a bill Tuesday with support from the lobbying group for prosecutors that would make it easier to move teenage offenders to adult court.
The measure was met with objections from Sen. Mujtaba Mohamed, D-Mecklenburg, a former Charlotte public defender who said juvenile court is better for preventing future crimes — in part because, he said, it allows parents to be held accountable for their children’s actions, which adult court does not allow for.
Britt, a criminal defense attorney in Lumberton, responded that it’s important for some youthful offenders to receive the harsher punishments of adult court. At the same time, he said, the bill would also allow school administrators more discretion not to suspend students for issues that are currently an automatic suspension. He said that for kids who are heading down a path of bad decisions, kicking them out of school even for a short time can be counter-productive.
Britt’s bill would also create a new crime that police could charge against adults who entice minors to commit crimes; he framed it as an anti-gang measure.
