Law / United States / Missouri
Child sexual abuse material offenses, computer-generated and AI-indistinguishable images included
Mo. Rev. Stat. Secs. 573.010, 573.023 to 573.037
A citation is an address, not a summary. The first part names the law; what follows narrows it to the exact section, article or paragraph.
In force 19 days, effective 28 August 2026.
An AI prohibited practices rule binding public and private bodies.
As of 6 September 2026.
What it requires
- Do not create, possess with intent to promote, or promote a computer-generated or AI-generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, an actual minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; Missouri's child sexual abuse material definition covers such synthetic images the same as real photographs.
- Knowingly promoting such material to a minor is a more serious offense than promoting it to an adult.
- This statute does not require you to monitor users or their communications if you operate an electronic communication or remote computing service.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureYes
Criminal exposure note
Promoting child sexual abuse material in the first degree, which includes an AI-generated or computer-generated image indistinguishable from an actual minor, is a class B felony, or a class A felony where knowingly promoted to a minor, with a mandatory three-year period of parole and probation ineligibility.
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
Missouri's definition of child sexual abuse material, amended in 2026, includes a digital image, computer image, or computer-generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, where an ordinary person viewing it would conclude it depicts an actual minor, regardless of whether the minor was actually engaged in that conduct.
Promoting such material in the first degree, meaning possessing it with intent to promote or promoting it, where the depicted or apparent child is under fourteen, is a class B felony, rising to a class A felony if knowingly promoted to a minor, with three years of parole and probation ineligibility.
Promoting the same material where the depicted or apparent child is under eighteen is the lesser offense of promoting in the second degree, a class D felony rising to a class B felony if knowingly promoted to a minor. Possessing such material is a class D felony for a single still image, rising to a class B felony for more than twenty images, for one video, or on a repeat offense, with separate punishment for each item possessed.
The statute does not require a provider of electronic communication or remote computing services to monitor users or their communications.
When LexLint raises it
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Read the law
official Missouri statute text, Revised Statutes of Missouri sections 573.010 and 573.025