S. 4678

[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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