WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 1 REQUIREMENT TYPE
How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
(a)–(h) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the meaning herein ascribed unless the context clearly requires otherwise: (a) "AudioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a)" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound. (b) "DigitizationDigitization"Digitization" means to alter an image or audio in a realistic manner utilizing images or audio of a person, other than the person depicted, or utilizing computer-generated images or audio. "Digitization" includes the creation of an image or audio through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence or any other computer-generated or technological means.Section 1(b)" means to alter an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) in a realistic manner utilizing imagesImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audio of a person, other than the person depicted, or utilizing computer-generated imagesImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a). "DigitizationDigitization"Digitization" means to alter an image or audio in a realistic manner utilizing images or audio of a person, other than the person depicted, or utilizing computer-generated images or audio. "Digitization" includes the creation of an image or audio through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence or any other computer-generated or technological means.Section 1(b)" includes the creation of an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence or any other computer-generated or technological means. (c) "DisseminateDisseminate"Disseminate" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person.Section 1(c)" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person. (d) "Intimate partIntimate part"Intimate part" means the naked genitals, pubic area, anus or female nipple of the person.Section 1(d)" means the naked genitals, pubic area, anus or female nipple of the person. (e) "ImageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e)" means a still imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or a video imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) with or without audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a). (f) "PublishPublish"Publish" means to: (i) Disseminate, as defined in paragraph (c) of this subsection, with the intent that such image or images be disseminated to ten (10) or more persons; (ii) Disseminate with the intent that such image or images be sold by another person; (iii) Post, present, display, exhibit, circulate, advertise or allow access, electronically or otherwise, so as to make an image or images available to the public; or (iv) Disseminate with the intent that an image or images be posted, presented, displayed, exhibited, circulated, advertised or made accessible, electronically or otherwise and to make such image or images available to the public.Section 1(f)" means to: (i) DisseminateDisseminate"Disseminate" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person.Section 1(c), as defined in paragraph (c) of this subsection, with the intent that such imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or imagesImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) be disseminated to ten (10) or more persons; (ii) DisseminateDisseminate"Disseminate" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person.Section 1(c) with the intent that such imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or imagesImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) be sold by another person; (iii) Post, present, display, exhibit, circulate, advertise or allow access, electronically or otherwise, so as to make an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or imagesImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) available to the public; or (iv) DisseminateDisseminate"Disseminate" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person.Section 1(c) with the intent that an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or imagesImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) be posted, presented, displayed, exhibited, circulated, advertised or made accessible, electronically or otherwise and to make such imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or imagesImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) available to the public. (g) "Sexual conductSexual conduct"Sexual conduct" means sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct, anal sexual conduct or sexual contact.Section 1(g)" means sexual intercourse, oral sexual conductSexual conduct"Sexual conduct" means sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct, anal sexual conduct or sexual contact.Section 1(g), anal sexual conductSexual conduct"Sexual conduct" means sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct, anal sexual conduct or sexual contact.Section 1(g) or sexual contactSexual contact"Sexual contact" means any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either party. It includes the touching of the actor by the victim, as well as the touching of the victim by the actor, whether directly or through clothing, as well as the emission of ejaculate by the actor upon any part of the victim, clothed or unclothed.Section 1(h). (h) "Sexual contactSexual contact"Sexual contact" means any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either party. It includes the touching of the actor by the victim, as well as the touching of the victim by the actor, whether directly or through clothing, as well as the emission of ejaculate by the actor upon any part of the victim, clothed or unclothed.Section 1(h)" means any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person for the purpose of gratifying sexual desire of either party. It includes the touching of the actor by the victim, as well as the touching of the victim by the actor, whether directly or through clothing, as well as the emission of ejaculate by the actor upon any part of the victim, clothed or unclothed.
Section 1 establishes the definitional framework for the bill. The key term is digitization, defined broadly to encompass any realistic alteration or creation of images or audio using software, machine learning, artificial intelligence, or any other computer-generated or technological means. This definition is intentionally technology-neutral, capturing current and future generative AI tools. The section also defines the distribution triggers — disseminate covers any transfer to another person, while publish sets a higher threshold involving intent to reach 10 or more persons, intent that images be sold, or making images publicly accessible.
(1)(a)–(b) 1 A person is guilty of unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) created or altered by digitizationDigitization"Digitization" means to alter an image or audio in a realistic manner utilizing images or audio of a person, other than the person depicted, or utilizing computer-generated images or audio. "Digitization" includes the creation of an image or audio through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence or any other computer-generated or technological means.Section 1(b) when: (a) With intent to cause harm to the emotional, financial or physical welfare of another person, he or she intentionally disseminatesDisseminate"Disseminate" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person.Section 1(c) or publishesPublish"Publish" means to: (i) Disseminate, as defined in paragraph (c) of this subsection, with the intent that such image or images be disseminated to ten (10) or more persons; (ii) Disseminate with the intent that such image or images be sold by another person; (iii) Post, present, display, exhibit, circulate, advertise or allow access, electronically or otherwise, so as to make an image or images available to the public; or (iv) Disseminate with the intent that an image or images be posted, presented, displayed, exhibited, circulated, advertised or made accessible, electronically or otherwise and to make such image or images available to the public.Section 1(f) an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) created or altered by digitizationDigitization"Digitization" means to alter an image or audio in a realistic manner utilizing images or audio of a person, other than the person depicted, or utilizing computer-generated images or audio. "Digitization" includes the creation of an image or audio through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence or any other computer-generated or technological means.Section 1(b) depicting such other person with one or more intimate partsIntimate part"Intimate part" means the naked genitals, pubic area, anus or female nipple of the person.Section 1(d) exposed or engaging in sexual conductSexual conduct"Sexual conduct" means sexual intercourse, oral sexual conduct, anal sexual conduct or sexual contact.Section 1(g) with another person, where such person may reasonably be identified from the imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) itself or from information displayed in connection with the imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a); and (b) The actor knew or reasonably should have known that the person depicted did not consent to such dissemination or publication, including the dissemination or publication of an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) recording taken with the consent of the person depicted when such person had a reasonable expectation that the imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) recording taken would remain private, regardless of whether the actor was present when such imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) recording was taken.
(2)(a)–(c) 1 Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, a person convicted of an offense under this section who was twenty-one (21) years or older at the time of the offense shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in Section 97-29-63 for the offense of photographing or filming another without permission where there is an expectation of privacy. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, a person convicted of an offense under this section who was under the age of twenty-one (21) at the time of the offense shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both. (c) Any person who is convicted under this section of a second or subsequent offense which arises from a separate nucleus of operative fact, at least thirty (30) days after the previous offense, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment within the state penitentiary for not more than three (3) years.
Section 2 creates the bill's primary criminal offense: the unlawful dissemination or publication of intimate AI-generated or digitally altered images or audio. The offense requires two elements — (1) intentional dissemination or publication of a digitized intimate image or audio of an identifiable person with intent to cause emotional, financial, or physical harm, and (2) knowledge or constructive knowledge that the depicted person did not consent. The identifiability standard is met either from the image or audio itself or from information displayed in connection with it.
Penalties are graduated by age and recidivism. Offenders aged 21 or older face felony penalties under existing Mississippi voyeurism law (§ 97-29-63). Offenders under 21 face misdemeanor penalties of up to $2,500 and/or one year. Second or subsequent offenses arising from separate operative facts at least 30 days apart carry enhanced felony penalties of up to $5,000 and/or three years.
(1)(a)–(b) 2 A person is guilty of unlawful dissemination or publication of an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) created or altered by digitizationDigitization"Digitization" means to alter an image or audio in a realistic manner utilizing images or audio of a person, other than the person depicted, or utilizing computer-generated images or audio. "Digitization" includes the creation of an image or audio through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence or any other computer-generated or technological means.Section 1(b) when: (a) With intent to cause harm to the emotional, financial or physical welfare of another person, he or she intentionally disseminatesDisseminate"Disseminate" means to give, provide, lend, deliver, mail, send, forward, transfer or transmit, electronically or otherwise to another person.Section 1(c) or publishesPublish"Publish" means to: (i) Disseminate, as defined in paragraph (c) of this subsection, with the intent that such image or images be disseminated to ten (10) or more persons; (ii) Disseminate with the intent that such image or images be sold by another person; (iii) Post, present, display, exhibit, circulate, advertise or allow access, electronically or otherwise, so as to make an image or images available to the public; or (iv) Disseminate with the intent that an image or images be posted, presented, displayed, exhibited, circulated, advertised or made accessible, electronically or otherwise and to make such image or images available to the public.Section 1(f) an imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) created or altered by digitizationDigitization"Digitization" means to alter an image or audio in a realistic manner utilizing images or audio of a person, other than the person depicted, or utilizing computer-generated images or audio. "Digitization" includes the creation of an image or audio through the use of software, machine learning, artificial intelligence or any other computer-generated or technological means.Section 1(b) depicting such other person where such person may reasonably be identified from the imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) itself or from information displayed in connection with the imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e); and (b) The actor knew or reasonably should have known that the person depicted did not consent to such dissemination or publication.
(2) 2 A person convicted of an offense under this section of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both.
Section 3 extends criminal liability to non-intimate AI-generated or digitally altered images and audio — a notably broader scope than the intimate-image offense in Section 2. The same dual-element structure applies: intentional dissemination or publication with intent to cause harm, plus knowledge or constructive knowledge that the depicted person did not consent. However, because the image need not be intimate, this provision captures any realistic AI-generated depiction of an identifiable person, potentially including political deepfakes, reputation-damaging fabrications, or impersonation content. The penalty is a misdemeanor carrying up to $2,500 and/or one year, with no age-based graduation.
The criminal offenses and penalties authorized by this act shall be in addition to any other criminal offenses and penalties authorized by law.
Section 4 is a standard cumulative-penalties provision clarifying that the criminal offenses and penalties created by this act supplement rather than displace any other criminal offenses and penalties authorized by existing Mississippi law. This ensures that prosecutors may charge under both this act and any other applicable statute (such as existing voyeurism, harassment, or computer fraud laws) without triggering a double-jeopardy defense based on legislative intent to preempt.
(a)–(e) This act shall not apply to the following: (a) The reporting of unlawful conduct; (b) Dissemination or publication of an intimate imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e), imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) made during lawful and common practices of law enforcement, legal proceedings or medical treatment; (c) An intimate imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e), imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) involving voluntary exposure in a public or commercial setting; (d) Dissemination or publication of an intimate imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e), imageImage"Image" means a still image or a video image with or without audio.Section 1(e) or audioAudio"Audio" means the transmission, reception or reproduction of sound.Section 1(a) made for a legitimate public purpose; or (e) An internet service provider, or its affiliates or subsidiaries, search engine, or cloud service provider solely for providing access or connection to or from a website or other information or content on the internet or a facility, system, or network not under the control of that provider, including transmission, downloading, intermediate storage, access software or other related capabilities.
Section 5 carves out five categories of conduct from the bill's criminal prohibitions. The exceptions cover reporting of unlawful conduct, dissemination in the course of law enforcement, legal proceedings, or medical treatment, voluntary public or commercial exposure, dissemination for a legitimate public purpose, and an ISP/search engine/cloud service provider safe harbor. The ISP safe harbor in subsection (e) is limited to providers acting solely as conduits or hosts — it does not protect platforms that actively curate or promote AI-generated content. The legitimate public purpose exception in subsection (d) is undefined and may provide a significant defense in practice.
This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
Section 6 sets the effective date of the act as July 1, 2026. Because the bill died in committee, this provision is inoperative.