S. 4678

119 S4678 IS: Stopping Illegal Minor Simulations Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-06-03
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4678  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Stopping Illegal Minor Simulations Act   or the   SIMS Act  .
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:
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.