MD SB989

Online platforms are prohibited from knowingly and intentionally distributing, creating, or developing unlawful child exploitation material, which includes child pornography, obscene material involving minors, and child sexual exploitation devices or images (such as anatomically accurate mannequins, robots, or dolls resembling minors)

Parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in or exposed to violations may sue online platforms for nominal damages, actual damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorney's fees; the Attorney General may also seek injunctive or equitable relief

"Computer-generated image" is explicitly defined to include images created through artificial intelligence software, and the age threshold for child pornography victims is raised from "under 16 years" to any minor (under 18)

Internet service providers, search engines, and cloud service providers are exempt if they are only transmitting or storing communications initiated by others and are not responsible for creating the material

Effective date: October 1, 2026