[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4678 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4678
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the provision of
minor-simulating chatbots that engage in sexually explicit conduct or
sexually explicit conversation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 3, 2026
Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Husted)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the provision of
minor-simulating chatbots that engage in sexually explicit conduct or
sexually explicit conversation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Stopping Illegal Minor Simulations
Act'' or the ``SIMS Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON MINOR-SIMULATING CHATBOTS THAT ENGAGE IN
SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT OR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
CONVERSATION.
(a) In General.--Chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 2260B. Prohibition on minor-simulating chatbots that engage in
sexually explicit conduct or sexually explicit
conversation
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Chatbot.--The term `chatbot' means any interactive
computer service (as defined in section 230 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230)) or software
application that--
``(A) is designed to simulate interactive
conversation with human users, especially over the
internet, that mimics human-like communication
characteristics, including emotions and intentions;
``(B) produces new expressive content or responses
not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of
the service or application; and
``(C) accepts open-ended natural-language or
multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-
responsive output.
``(2) Covered entity.--The term `covered entity' means any
person that owns or operates a chatbot made available to
individuals in the United States.
``(3) Minor.--The term `minor' means an individual who has
not attained 18 years of age.
``(4) Sexually explicit conduct.--The term `sexually
explicit conduct' has the meaning given the term in section
2256.
``(5) Sexually explicit conversation.--The term `sexually
explicit conversation' means any interactive verbal or visual
communication, in speech, image, or text, that simulates
sexually explicit conduct.
``(b) Offense.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), it shall be
unlawful for a covered entity to make available to human users
a chatbot that is designed to simulate (through text, audio,
visual, or other means) a minor engaged in interactive sexually
explicit conduct or an interactive sexually explicit
conversation with a human user, when such conduct or
conversation--
``(A) is obscene; and
``(B) constitutes conduct that would violate any
criminal law applicable in the relevant jurisdiction.
``(2) Exemption.--The Attorney General may, upon request,
provide an exemption from the prohibition under paragraph (1)
for the limited purpose of law enforcement investigation
activities to the following entities:
``(A) A Federal law enforcement agency that is
involved in the investigation of child sexual
exploitation.
``(B) A State or local law enforcement agency that
is involved in the investigation of child sexual
exploitation.
``(C) A foreign law enforcement agency that--
``(i)(I) is designated by the Attorney
General or a foreign law enforcement agency; or
``(II) has an established relationship with
the Federal Bureau of Investigation or
INTERPOL; and
``(ii) is involved in the investigation of
child sexual exploitation.
``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in paragraph (1) shall
be construed to--
``(A) prohibit internal or external research, red-
teaming, or other evaluation, or publication of the
results thereof, designed to assess whether a chatbot
violates the prohibition under that paragraph;
``(B) create liability for a user of a chatbot
described in that paragraph who is not a covered
entity; or
``(C) depart from the standard under the
Constitution of the United States applied in
determining the meaning of the term `obscene'.
``(4) Nonrequired element of offense.--It is not a required
element of the offense under paragraph (1) that the minor
simulated actually exist.
``(c) Criminal Penalty.--Any person who willfully violates
subsection (b) shall be fined not more than $100,000.
``(d) Civil Enforcement.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of a violation of subsection
(b) or a regulation promulgated thereunder, the Attorney
General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district
court of the United States to--
``(A) enjoin the violation;
``(B) enforce compliance with subsection (b) or the
regulation promulgated thereunder; or
``(C) obtain civil penalties under paragraph (3) of
this subsection, restitution, and other appropriate
relief.
``(2) Attorney general powers.--
``(A) Investigatory powers.--For the purpose of
conducting investigations or bringing enforcement
actions under this subsection, the Attorney General may
issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and compel the
production of documents or testimony.
``(B) Rulemaking.--The Attorney General may
promulgate any regulations necessary to carry out this
section.
``(3) Civil penalties.--Any person who violates subsection
(b) or a regulation promulgated thereunder shall be subject to
a civil penalty not to exceed $100,000 for each violation.
``(e) Annual Report.--The Attorney General shall submit an annual
report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that
details, for the period covered by the report--
``(1) the number of persons convicted under this section,
disaggregated by individuals and corporations;
``(2) the number of criminal penalties or civil penalties
imposed under this section;
``(3) the number of criminal or civil proceedings initiated
for a violation of this section;
``(4) the number of law enforcement investigations into
potential violations of this section that were conducted using
chatbots described in subsection (b)(1); and
``(5) any other information the Attorney General considers
relevant to include.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``2260B. Prohibition on minor-simulating chatbots that engage in
sexually explicit conduct or sexually
explicit conversation.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
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