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Louisiana Act 782 Targets Specified AI-Created Images of Real People
By Anthony Guerriero · Reviewed by Anthony Guerriero · Published 2026-08-05 · Updated 2026-08-05
Louisiana Act 782 took effect August 1, 2026. It creates and amends targeted criminal provisions for specified AI-created images of another person. It is not a general AI law or blanket platform-liability rule.
Bottom line: Act 782 creates a new possession offense for certain AI-created nude or undressed images of another person under 17, and it also amends related deepfake, dissemination, and sexting provisions.
Who this affects: Legal, compliance, safety, and product teams whose work touches visual-generation features or user safety in Louisiana.
Effective date: August 1, 2026.
Critical limit: The Act contains specified provider and recipient exclusions. It does not impose automatic liability on every AI developer, online service, or image tool.
Primary sources: Louisiana Legislature HB 119 status and history; enrolled Act No. 782.
- Instrument
- Louisiana Act No. 782 (House Bill 119)
- Authority
- Louisiana Legislature
- Jurisdiction
- Louisiana, United States
- Status
- Enacted state criminal-law amendment.
- Effective date
- August 1, 2026.
What the Act adds
New R.S. 14:73.14.1 makes it unlawful to possess an AI-created video or still image of another person under 17 who is totally nude or in a state of undress exposing specified body areas, when the person possessing it knows or has reason to know they are not licensed or authorized to possess it.
The Act defines 'another person' for that section and provides a definition of 'artificial intelligence' for use in that section.
What the Act changes elsewhere
Act 782 also amends specified provisions concerning unlawful deepfakes, unlawful dissemination or sale of AI-created images of another person, and sexting. The enrolled Act specifies different elements and consequences across those provisions. Do not collapse them into a single universal AI-image offense.
For the new possession offense, the enrolled text provides a penalty of up to five years imprisonment, with at least one year to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, subject to the Act's stated educator and youth provisions.
Provider and recipient limits
The new possession section does not apply to the specified interactive computer, email, telecommunications, information-service, system, and access-software providers identified in the text. It also does not apply to a person who lacked specific intent to receive an image and did not consent to its receipt.
Map the product and safety workflow to the particular offense. Act 782 is a targeted criminal-law amendment with stated elements and exclusions, not a general AI governance regime.
FAQ
Is Act 782 a general AI law?
No. It is a targeted criminal-law amendment concerning specified AI-created images of another person.
When did it take effect?
The official Legislature record lists August 1, 2026.
Does it apply to every online service?
No. The new possession section contains stated exclusions for specified service and provider categories, as well as a stated recipient exception.
Source file
Louisiana Act No. 782, enrolled text
This page is limited to the enrolled Act and official legislative status record. Confirm the current code and legal application with qualified counsel.
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