Visual Depiction
A broad term for photographs, films, videos, or digital images, including those created or altered by computers.
How the laws define this
Regulators across these instruments agree that visual depictions extend beyond traditional photographs and films to encompass digital representations, computer-generated images, and videos in any format or medium. They diverge significantly regarding technical scope, artificial intelligence, and targeted subject matter. An Act concerning crimes and punishments, a bill relating to sexual exploitation of a minor, and Iowa Code section 728.1 (as expanded by HF 2240) explicitly target modified, adapted, or artificial intelligence-generated media, with HF 2240 focusing on images altered to falsely depict another person in nudity or sexual acts. Conversely, the Oklahoma Law on Obscenity and Child Pornography does not explicitly mention artificial intelligence, but uniquely expands coverage to include performances as well as data that is capable of being converted into an image. Furthermore, while the bill relating to sexual exploitation of a minor addresses content depicting minors, HF 2240 applies to altered depictions of another person generally.
Synthesised from the 4 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
Definitions (4)
A broad term encompassing photographs, films, video pictures, digital or computer-generated images, or any other visual representation.
Any image or video, including those created, adapted, or modified digitally, that purports to show a minor engaged in sexual activity. This term is crucial as it encompasses both authentic and synthetically generated content, including that produced by artificial intelligence.
Any depiction, picture, movie, performance, or image displayed, stored, shared, or transmitted in any format and on any medium including data that is capable of being converted into a depiction, picture, movie, performance, or image.
As defined in Iowa Code section 728.1, and expanded by HF 2240 to include images that have been altered to falsely depict another person in a state of full or partial nudity or engaged in a sex act.