Report on Senate Bill 1050: Enhancing Child Protection and Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

A legislative proposal, Senate Bill 1050, has been introduced by Senators Tracy Pennycuick, Scott Martin, and Lisa Baker to address the escalating threat of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) generated by artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative seeks to strengthen legal frameworks to protect minors, directly contributing to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on justice, health, and safe educational environments.

2.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Senate Bill 1050 is fundamentally aligned with the global commitment to the SDGs. Its implementation will directly support progress on the following goals:

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The bill directly addresses Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children. By creating a robust legal requirement for reporting AI-generated CSAM, the legislation strengthens institutions and promotes the rule of law to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The creation and dissemination of CSAM inflict severe and life-altering trauma, anxiety, and fear on minors. This bill supports Target 3.4 by promoting mental health and well-being through preventative legal measures designed to mitigate the profound psychological damage caused by such materials.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: By specifically addressing troubling cases of AI-generated CSAM in school settings, the bill contributes to Target 4.A, which aims to provide safe, non-violent, and inclusive learning environments. Ensuring that such incidents are reported and investigated is essential for maintaining the safety and security required for quality education.

3.0 Key Provisions of the Legislation

The primary objective of Senate Bill 1050 is to update child protection laws to counter emerging technological threats. The core components of the bill include:

1. Expansion of Mandated Reporting: The bill requires mandated reporters, including teachers, child care workers, and health care providers, to report all instances of CSAM they encounter.
2. Inclusion of AI-Generated Material: The reporting requirement explicitly covers materials generated using artificial intelligence, closing a critical legislative gap.
3. Reporting of Minor-Produced Content: The mandate extends to reporting CSAM that has been produced by a minor, ensuring all instances are addressed by appropriate authorities.

4.0 Rationale and Legislative Context

The introduction of this bipartisan proposal is driven by several critical factors:

• A documented and startling increase in the creation and sharing of AI-generated CSAM.
• The need for legal frameworks to evolve and keep pace with the rapid advancement of criminal tools in the digital world.
• The necessity of building upon previous legislative successes, such as Act 125 of 2024 and Act 35 of 2025, which addressed deepfakes and sexual deepfakes.

The bill is positioned as an essential step to ensure that cases involving all forms of CSAM are reported and investigated promptly, targeting producers regardless of whether they are adults or fellow students.

5.0 Conclusion

Senate Bill 1050 represents a critical legislative effort to safeguard children from the severe harms posed by AI-generated abusive materials. By strengthening reporting mandates and adapting to new technological challenges, the bill not only enhances child protection measures but also makes a significant contribution to achieving key targets within the Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing the state’s commitment to justice, well-being, and safe environments for all children.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses on creating and strengthening legislation (Senate Bill 1050) to protect a vulnerable group (children) from violence and abuse. The introduction of the bill is a direct effort to build effective and accountable institutions to combat emerging criminal threats like AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The article states the bill aims to update “child protection laws” and ensure cases are “reported and investigated promptly,” which directly relates to promoting justice and the rule of law.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article explicitly connects the issue of AI-generated CSAM to the health and well-being of minors. It highlights the severe psychological impact, stating, “the trauma, anxiety, and fear caused by these acts can be life-altering.” By proposing measures to prevent the creation and dissemination of these materials, the legislation aims to protect the mental health and well-being of children, which is a key component of SDG 3.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

  This is the most relevant target. The entire article is about a legislative initiative to “better protect young people against the serious threats posed by child abuse materials.” The bill specifically addresses the “startling increase in the amount of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM),” which is a modern form of child abuse and exploitation. The goal is to protect children from these “incredibly damaging materials.”

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and local levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

  The article describes a legislative process to address a new societal threat. By introducing Senate Bill 1050 and building on previous laws like Act 125 and Act 35, the senators are working to ensure “the law needs to change to keep pace” with evolving criminal tools. This action is a clear example of promoting the rule of law to provide justice and protection for victims.

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The bill is a preventative measure aimed at mitigating severe psychological harm. The article’s emphasis on preventing the “devastating” and “life-altering” trauma, anxiety, and fear directly supports the promotion of mental health and well-being for children, aligning with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Existence of legislation to protect children from abuse and exploitation.

  The article explicitly mentions several pieces of legislation: the proposed Senate Bill 1050, and the already passed Act 125 of 2024 and Act 35 of 2025. The existence and enactment of these laws serve as a direct indicator of progress in creating legal frameworks to protect children, relevant to Target 16.2.

• Number of reported cases of CSAM by mandated reporters.

  The core of Senate Bill 1050 is to “require mandated reporters – such as teachers, child care workers and health care providers, among others – to report all instances of CSAM they become aware of.” An increase in the number of official reports filed by these individuals would be a direct indicator of the law’s implementation and effectiveness in bringing these crimes to the attention of authorities, which is a key step in ending abuse (Target 16.2).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: pasenategop.com