[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6329466,"mediaKeyId","2316032-b4a76f741a25219e7cf4603bbaf08217","parentId",2316032,"title","Debate on unauthorized intimate-image felony adjourned after subcommittee discussion","audioSeconds",435,"startMs",1838245,"endMs",2273845,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316032-b4a76f741a25219e7cf4603bbaf08217&start=1838&end=2273","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316032-b4a76f741a25219e7cf4603bbaf08217/thumbnail_1838245.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6329466/South-Carolina/Debate-on-unauthorized-intimate-image-felony-adjourned-after-subcommittee-discussion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329466-883f8b796bafd5bfc2ae336d838fb3ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1776571171&Signature=JlbkLyOu0bZ1xOXTU8aj6RzH4WxB24p4xmk1r9lIfyebgqqdw1N0nlly23VHaGFr4WFa4JSJrZJsVmiw7XXJ2O1S3aBWdHlnxt79kE~MVLjAceeio2l1View8PYb9Lx-NzeJ7wklhKjZo1aUJhngR6j8nxg95foCYzawDpnf2b71BEMsXnpha9WNJELrb1hPTNgbRWuSAGPuW~k-VivpNDBoadAVAF4BJszNSnWYFqDX3~0uJBQDjem3OyaIXCIPAXb-zR0StzRkT-8lxSMawoBwpmNJpZu~h4o7WiyS0DjBZipRQ3k4RQ2QJtqJCYMNH9j33AfcADbi2nYJpa2wvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","The House Judiciary Subcommittee opened consideration of House Bill H.3058, which would criminalize the intentional dissemination of intimate images or digitally forged intimate images without the effective consent of the depicted person, but adjourned further debate when the House went into session.

Under the bill as presented, a “digitally forged intimate image” is any altered or fabricated image that falsely depicts an individual in intimate or sexual conduct, including those generated or modified using machine learning techniques. The measure defines an “intimate image” as a photo or video of an identifiable person showing explicit sexual conduct. The bill would allow separate charges if multiple images of the same person are involved and would bar duplication of such images for criminal discovery purposes.

Penalties described to the subcommittee include a first felony offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine; a second offense would carry a prison range of one to 10 years and fines up to $10,000. The bill includes an exception permitting law enforcement to create intimate or digitally forged images during lawful criminal investigations.

Representative Wooten, the sponsor, described scenarios in which consensual private images are later used for harassment, blackmail or exploitation, and urged the committee to advance the bill. Representative McCabe asked whether the statute should also criminalize threats to disseminate intimate images; Wooten said he would not oppose an amendment to add threats and invited work with counsel on language.

Before the panel could complete deliberations, the chair noted that the full House had come into session and moved to adjourn debate; members approved the adjournment, and the bill will be set on a future subcommittee agenda for further consideration.

Outcome: Debate adjourned; no final vote on H.3058 was recorded by the subcommittee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Judiciary February 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The subcommittee began consideration of H.3058, a bill that would create a felony for intentionally disseminating intimate or digitally forged intimate images without consent, but adjourned debate because the full House went into session; sponsors indicated willingness to consider adding threats to disseminate as an amendment.","taxTitle","Judiciary, Standing, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17507,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329471,"Panel approves bill criminalizing AI-morphed sexual images of identifiable minors",1415,391215,1807110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316032-b4a76f741a25219e7cf4603bbaf08217&start=391&end=1807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316032-b4a76f741a25219e7cf4603bbaf08217/thumbnail_391215.jpg","/articles/6329471/South-Carolina/Panel-approves-bill-criminalizing-AI-morphed-sexual-images-of-identifiable-minors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329471-eec610aec94121f16a2c2bdc10752927/orig.mp4?Expires=1776571171&Signature=kjxiOlvDrr3rEjJ22Re3L62rMDG2tT8gjGEL~bkfTZSivU8on4s9A6h9ASqEhZbnEIVAThMW5M1CneOsjHwEHJjSUckU8-5mxqEsYoGQHocDBzwAK33EMmmbpDrB2liu7Fxv0X~PdjW1JhXZ9YoboVBiL2PQROPu-N-43ajWfrllpcl8njH4Nm~zCs6HfGah9SFW385PHEnzllaB3obdyjZKBkpb~5SXVSdTTJsCwIvTW4vOKkqJCMoDzMBfnvniE4Rj7hQCprfFHfUsX~XGU0pMn916q5u4M-OmY-FufY7VEioNDn6Xb13krLp5xh~b90xKuXadH5AlZjMzuqLL9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Wednesday approved House Bill H.3046 to criminalize the creation, distribution and possession of morphed or AI-altered images that depict an identifiable minor in explicit sexual conduct.

The bill defines an “identifiable minor” as a person who was a minor when the image was created, adapted or modified, or whose face, likeness or distinguishing features make the person recognizable even if the actual identity is not proven. The measure distinguishes degrees of offense: producing morphed images is treated as a higher-degree felony, distribution as a separate degree, and mere possession as a lower-degree offense. Sponsors said the statute does not require proof of the minor's actual identity, only that the image can be recognized as depicting a real person who was a minor when the image was created or adapted.

Representative Wooten, the sponsor, told the subcommittee the legislation grew from testimony gathered by the Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children and that similar measures were considered last year. An academic and family member who identified herself as Mizell described both research and personal experience: she told the committee that photographs of two young women in her family — one under 15 and one under 10 — had been taken from social media, morphed with pornographic images, and later discovered by a third party. Mizell said law enforcement executed a search warrant, found material, but concluded at the time that state law did not prohibit prosecution; she said efforts to obtain action from federal authorities were unsuccessful because of resourcing and prioritization.

Kyle Sin, senior assistant deputy attorney general and head of the Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit, told the committee the office supports the bill. Sin said existing procedures allow for mental-health evaluations or competency assessments for defendants with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and those processes would remain available in cases involving defendants on the autism spectrum.

The subcommittee conducted a roll-call vote. Representatives Travis Moore (chair), Govan, McCabe, Spann Wilder and Wickenheimer each voted aye, and the subcommittee recorded that H.3046 was approved.

The committee discussion also noted a separate related bill (H.3045) that would address images believed to be entirely AI-generated and therefore not clearly of an actual child; committee members said H.3046 targets images that include identifiable characteristics tied to a real person.

Votes at a glance: H.3046 — approved (Subcommittee roll call: Moore Aye; Govan Aye; McCabe Aye; Spann Wilder Aye; Wickenheimer Aye).","The subcommittee approved H.3046, which would create criminal penalties for creating, distributing or possessing morphed images that depict identifiable minors in sexual or explicit conduct; the bill outlines tiered offenses, treats juvenile first offenses differently and directs adult offenders to offender-registration tiers where applicable.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329476,"Subcommittee approves bill letting state attorneys issue administrative subpoenas to ISPs in criminal probes",373,15695,389235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316032-b4a76f741a25219e7cf4603bbaf08217&start=15&end=389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316032-b4a76f741a25219e7cf4603bbaf08217/thumbnail_15695.jpg","/articles/6329476/South-Carolina/Subcommittee-approves-bill-letting-state-attorneys-issue-administrative-subpoenas-to-ISPs-in-criminal-probes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329476-48a7f99b6f22221b6662e03a5d639c9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776571171&Signature=QxCkUaYKXgESQPGlySmSS0wlvRw3R9bzTDCNDKaCEC08zGu5cFAw-t4eIbutFlTb8HvV2~pAWnhv0SFIHOW6y2nnvGOF5v1QiS7LL-vfMFjKLKXdt~uPgPzg-lmrl3Oqp0zOKgergIARv1i~5THd2ltbUWO0mtupMRJpfOagzHbpzD3UrSXRzdNCVe~bA1NSCRGs0N30AFtSBee2TLQ4V5SzJ1aWlPcHOO22I0obg-wP4NVHEDLMFzoCcIMHd6v9K3Cl61LpENH2-ae~Dce~CMyDWkGYfDZ63IQhLftuuNPdfyxcpkKGygXDGzNa-YHOZJExK7K3uJrkW~bzUGb2XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Wednesday favorably reported House Bill H.3460 to give the attorney general, circuit solicitors and the State Law Enforcement Division authority to issue administrative subpoenas to internet service providers for subscriber and transactional records relevant to ongoing criminal investigations.

Supporters said the change is intended to speed investigations into online child exploitation by removing delays created when state prosecutors must rely on the U.S. Attorney's Office to issue similar subpoenas. Mr. Matt Gates, a representative of the attorney general's office, told the committee that state investigators receive “cyber tips” from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that identify IP addresses linked to suspected child exploitation; those tips often require the name and street address associated with an IP address. “If our state investigators could go to our state attorney general and have these administrative subpoenas signed and issued, we could catch child predators faster,” Gates said.

The bill's text, as described to the subcommittee, would permit issuance only after a showing that requested materials are relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation. If relevance is established and a subpoena is issued, authorized personnel may obtain access to stored wired, digital or electronic communications, transactional records and subscriber information associated with a user who is a suspect in the investigation. The chair clarified that the measure does not allow access to information “that's not already available to them,” and supporters emphasized that the statute would not replace search-warrant or court-order standards required to obtain content that requires probable cause.

Representative Wooten, the bill sponsor, said H.3460 mirrors a Senate measure (S.954) considered last year and that similar statutory approaches exist in other states. The committee record shows proponents argued the current practice — in which state authorities must coordinate with the U.S. Attorney's Office — can cause administrative delays “ranging from weeks to months,” potentially hindering the discovery of devices or evidence.

A roll-call vote was ordered. Representative Travis Moore (chair) voted aye, as did Representatives Govan, McCabe, Spann Wilder and Wickenheimer. The subcommittee recorded the outcome as a favorable report on H.3460.

The measure will move to the next committee or floor step required by House rules.

Votes at a glance: H.3460 — favorable report (Subcommittee roll call: Moore Aye; Govan Aye; McCabe Aye; Spann Wilder Aye; Wickenheimer Aye).","The House Judiciary Subcommittee favorably reported H.3460, which would let the state attorney general, circuit solicitors and SLED issue administrative subpoenas to internet service providers for subscriber and transactional data deemed relevant to ongoing criminal investigations; the measure passed the panel by unanimous roll call.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Debate on unauthorized intimate-image felony adjourned after subcommittee discussion

Panel approves bill criminalizing AI-morphed sexual images of identifiable minors

Subcommittee approves bill letting state attorneys issue administrative subpoenas to ISPs in criminal probes