Disturbing topic.
From a Constitutional standpoint, this is an interesting problem. Pixels are being arranged and shared between individuals who share a moral and political outlook. Under the First Amendment, that sort of thing is supposed to be protected. I mean, as far as we can see, no humans of any age are involved, abused, suffering or exploited. This isn’t about kids. It’s pixels.
If we get on our high horse and say “It’s too much. The government must act” then that really is the mentality that reads the Second Amendment saying “shall not be infringed” and concludes: “But no AR-15s. That’s too much. The government must act.”
Well, the government would certainly grant civil rights to AI children before granting any to the unborn.
I understand your point. I would rather that pedophiles stay in their basements looking at pixels than roaming the streets looking for kids.
So does that mean people who hate blacks can make AI videos of lynchings? How about AI rape and snuff videos?
You have a point. The actual federal statute only applies to porn involving actual children
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2252
If the porn only involves adults pretending to be underage, or is created without using any humans at all, then it’s not prosecutable, per the above statute.
For example, a cartoon or painting depicting such acts, if created without using actual children.