A new state law will empower schools to punish students who use artificial intelligence to bully other kids.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A new state law will empower schools to punish students who use artificial intelligence to bully other kids.

The law will ban students from using a digital replica to bully one of their peers and asking an AI algorithm to create explicit images of students.

"This has been an issue that continues to arise with the development of AI, and this bill will hopefully take care of that in terms of bullying," said Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Crest Hill). 

House Bill 3851 passed unanimously out of both chambers earlier this year. Democrats and Republicans said AI has played a role in the rise of bullying, mental health and anxiety problems for minors.

"Students these days have unfettered access to the world of artificial intelligence, and many are feeling the effects of this with rising rates of cyberbullying and the use of AI to create sexually explicit materials," said Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville). "As our conversations continue on how we utilize AI for good, we also have to act now to reverse this more destructive trend and hold students accountable for their actions online and in the classroom."

This legislation was supported by ACLU of Illinois and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

The new law will take effect before the 2026-2027 school year begins. 

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