Illinois Senate could pass plan tackling deepfake cyberbullying during veto session

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate left Springfield last month without passing a bill to address the rise of deepfake images and AI-generated nude photos of students.

House Democrats and Republicans believe the Illinois school code should be amended to include sexually explicit digital depictions of students under the definition of cyberbullying.

Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) said teachers and administrators across the state are concerned about the amount of AI photos being created to humiliate young people in school.

"It puts this into policy. It gives it procedures for reporting," Yang Rohr said. "It gives a mechanism and requirement for informing the parents and guardians of the parties and students affected, and it gives means and guidance for how to investigate and address these issues."

House Bill 299 passed unanimously out of the House late last month. The Senate could vote on the legislation during veto session this fall.

"House Bill 299 arrived in the Senate as a new House bill on May 22, two days before our scheduled adjournment," said Liz Mitchell, a spokesperson for Senate President Don Harmon. "As such, time did not allow for the Senate to take it up in the spring session. It will be reviewed."

Harmon is currently named as the bill's Senate sponsor.