South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has called for the implementation of an age verification statute aimed at protecting minors from harmful content on the internet. In his testimony before the Legislative Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Regulation of Internet Access by Minors, Jackley emphasized the urgent need for legislative action to safeguard children from inappropriate online material.

Jackley highlighted the increasing risks minors face when accessing harmful websites and stressed the importance of creating a well-crafted statute to address these challenges. He urged lawmakers to consider age verification measures that focus on holding content providers accountable rather than imposing unnecessary burdens on adults.

“I am encouraging legislative support for age verification protections for minors accessing harmful internet content,” Jackley stated. He underscored that the legislation should be narrowly tailored to protect children while respecting constitutional rights, ensuring it withstands scrutiny by the courts.

In addition to advocating for age verification, Attorney General Jackley addressed the dangers posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in his testimony. During the 2024 legislative session, Jackley championed legislation that expanded child pornography laws to include AI-generated images and videos. This legislation, known as Senate Bill 79, specifically targets “deepfake” content—manipulated media that falsely portrays children engaged in prohibited sexual acts.

The bill successfully passed through the South Dakota Legislature and received the governor’s signature. By criminalizing the possession, manufacturing, or distribution of AI-generated child pornography, the state is taking proactive steps to protect its youth from emerging technological threats.

Jackley emphasized that the issue of protecting minors from harmful online content and AI-generated exploitation extends beyond South Dakota. He noted that attorneys general across the nation are supporting federal proposals to safeguard the public, particularly children, from these types of internet activities.

As South Dakota considers age verification laws and further measures to combat AI-generated exploitation, the state joins a broader national conversation on how to balance technological innovation with the need to protect vulnerable populations. The proposed legislation represents a significant step toward ensuring that children are safe from harmful content online while maintaining a careful balance with constitutional rights.