RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After becoming victim to what is referred to as the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, former Henrico House of Delegates candidate Susanna Gibson is pushing for changes.
A local case in Hampton Roads had charged and sentenced a man for doing just that after being found with AI-generated sexual abuse images of children.
“We need laws to reflect the seriousness of these crimes. Whether authentic or digitally-altered synthetic, these images represent real people and real sexual violence that extends beyond the digital space,” said Gibson, who founded the political action committee MyOwn to help combat gender-based sexual violence.
Gibson announced on Wednesday that two Virginia lawmakers will introduce a bill during next year’s General Assembly session to help curb a rise in image-based sexual abuse.
“Survivors frequently endure intense feelings of shame and isolation which can damage relationships, create challenges in school or work and cause self-harm or suicidal ideations,” said Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield), who will serve as one of the bill’s co-patrons.
The bill would make it a crime for anyone to share an intimate image of someone without their consent, regardless of whether or not they had the intent to do it maliciously. Plus, the legislation creates harsher penalties for perpetrators. Coyner said that, with generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the rise, the issue is only getting worse.
“We have heard stories from victims where they have a child, a teenage girl perhaps, has an image of them playing a sport, they are using these AI tools to strip them of clothing and distribute that,” said Coyner.
