Alaska’s House of Representatives has unanimously passed HB47, a far-reaching bill that would criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while simultaneously imposing strict social media restrictions on minors — including a statewide curfew on social media usage.

The legislation, which passed with a 39-0 vote, now heads to the Alaska State Senate for consideration.

Two-Pronged Approach to Online Safety

Originally introduced as a focused measure to prohibit the possession and distribution of sexually explicit AI-generated images of children, HB47 was significantly expanded by lawmakers who added a suite of social media amendments. The combined bill represents one of the most ambitious state-level efforts to tackle both AI-generated CSAM and youth social media addiction in a single legislative package.

According to Engadget’s report, the bill’s core provisions would make it illegal to generate or distribute AI deepfakes depicting child sexual abuse, closing a loophole that has concerned law enforcement and child safety advocates as generative AI tools become more accessible.

Social Media Curfew and Restrictions

The social media amendments to HB47 introduce several significant restrictions for minors:

• A statewide curfew prohibiting social media use between 10:30 PM and 6:30 AM
• A ban on “addictive design features” such as infinite scroll and algorithmic recommendations designed to maximize engagement
• Mandatory age verification for social media platforms
• Parental consent requirements for minors to create or maintain accounts

These provisions closely mirror regulations first introduced in Utah, which became the first state to propose broad social media restrictions for children. However, Utah’s law was later hit with a preliminary injunction, raising questions about potential legal challenges Alaska may face if HB47 becomes law.

Bipartisan Support but Lingering Concerns

While the unanimous House vote signals strong bipartisan support, some representatives voiced concerns during floor debate about the scope of the social media amendments. According to the Engadget coverage, several lawmakers worried that adding such broad restrictions without consulting the technology companies that would be affected could lead to unintended consequences and implementation challenges.

The bill still requires approval from the Alaska State Senate, which has already introduced a companion bill (SB247), and must be signed by the governor before becoming law.

Part of a Broader National Trend

Alaska is far from alone in pursuing this type of legislation. A growing number of states have introduced or passed laws targeting both AI-generated CSAM and youth social media access, as detailed by Engadget. The movement comes amid increasing public concern about the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and the proliferation of AI-generated abusive content.

If enacted, HB47 would place Alaska alongside states like Utah, Arkansas, and Texas in the growing patchwork of state-level internet regulations aimed at protecting minors — a trend that continues to draw both praise from child safety advocates and criticism from civil liberties groups concerned about privacy, free expression, and the practical challenges of age verification at scale.

The Alaska State Senate is expected to take up the bill in the coming weeks.