bill to fingerprint state pictures, audio and video

The text as introduced · 558 words

89R15846 GP-D

By: Capriglione
H.B. No. 4437

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a requirement that the Department of Information

Resources implement and develop certain systems and databases to

authenticate and track certain digital content.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 2054, Government Code, is

amended by adding Sections 2054.0542 and 2054.0543 to read as

follows:

Sec. 2054.0542. DIGITAL WATERMARKING SYSTEM. (a) In this

section:

(1) "Cryptographic hash database" means a secure

repository for storing digital signatures or hashes generated from

images that may be used to verify that the images have not been

altered.

(2) "Data provenance" means information regarding the

origin or history of, and changes to, digital content, for the

purpose of ensuring that the digital content's authenticity may be

verified.

(3) "Digital watermarking" means a process of

embedding information, either imperceptible or visible, into a

digital image to certify the image's authenticity and integrity.

(4) "Hash" means a cryptographic representation of an

original image or video.

(5) "State website" means any state website maintained

by the department that is primarily used to disseminate information

to the public.

(b) The department shall implement and maintain a digital

watermarking system to:

(1) embed into each image posted on a state website the

image's data provenance; and

(2) generate a hash for each image posted by the

department on a state website and record the hash in a cryptographic

hash database.

(c) The digital watermarking system must be tamper-evident

and readily verifiable by the general public through accessible

online tools or interfaces.

(d) The department may provide technical assistance to

another state agency to assist the agency in implementing a digital

watermarking system or another data provenance measure for the

agency's digital media.

Sec. 2054.0543. HASHMARK SHARING DATABASE FOR CERTAIN

MATERIAL. (a) In this section:

(1) "Artificial intelligence" means technology that

enables a computer to perform advanced functions, including

analyzing data, making recommendations, and understanding

language.

(2) "Child sexual abuse material" means an image,

including a video, of a child engaging in sexual conduct or sexual

performance.

(3) "Hash" has the meaning assigned by Section

2054.0542.

(4) "Hashmark sharing database" means a database to

which hashes that have been labeled are added for the purpose of

allowing a person with access to the database to identify certain

content that is visually similar to the images represented by

hashes in the database.

(b) The department shall develop and maintain a hashmark

sharing database for hashes related to child sexual abuse material.

(c) The database must be accessible to state agencies,

private sector entities, and federal, state, and local law

enforcement agencies for the purpose of training artificial

intelligence systems or content moderation systems or taking other

action to prevent dissemination of child sexual abuse material on

any platform.

(d) The department may collaborate with the Department of

Public Safety and any federal, state, or local agency or

organization to develop and maintain the hashmark sharing database

required by this section.

SECTION 2. The Department of Information Resources shall

implement the digital watermarking system required by Section

2054.0542, Government Code, as added by this Act, and the hashmark

sharing database required by Section 2054.0543, Government Code, as

added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2026.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.