William Webster Bragg, 56, of Aberdeen was indicted on seven counts of computer-generated child pornography charges on September 11 by a Brown County Grand Jury.
Bragg’s charges include one count of distributing child pornography and six counts of possessing child pornography. He could face 75 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary.
This is the first computer-generated child pornography case that has come from a new law was proposed by Attorney General Marty Jackley. It took effect on July 1, 2024, and makes the possession, distribution, and manufacturing of computer-generated child pornography a crime and includes “deepfake” images and videos.
Deepfakes are photos or videos that have been manipulated to like a child is engaging in sexual acts.
Jackley said at this time he doesn’t see a need to increase laws when it comes to other AI.
“If there’s other ways to protect kids, we want to be part of that conversation, but right now with the help of the legislature I feel we are in a good place nationwide. I feel other states should look to South Dakota as a leader in protecting children when it comes to child pornography and computer-generated pornography and the deep fakes,” Jackley said.
