For a long time, the U.S. has been particular about regulating the distribution of Japanese media within its territory, and it hasn’t been well received by fans of the medium. A new bill has further fueled their anger, which, if enacted into law, will criminalize the possession of anime, manga, and video games depicting minors in “obscene” ways.
On Wednesday, March 12, the state of Texas unanimously passed a bill aimed at combating the creation and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Primarily structured to address AI-generated child p*rnography, the bill’s broad language could also make certain anime and manga illegal.
Senate Bill 20, proposed as an amendment to Chapter 43 of Texas’ penal code, defines an offense as knowingly possessing, accessing with intent to view, or promoting obscene visual material that depicts a child under 18 engaging in activities described under Section 43.21(a)(1)(B).
The legislation explicitly states that this applies “regardless of whether the depiction is an image of an actual child, a cartoon or animation, or an image created using an artificial intelligence application or other computer software.”
Set to take effect on September 1, 2025, if passed into law, Senate Bill 20 would classify an offense under this section as a state jail felony. Penalties would escalate to a third-degree felony for one prior conviction and a second-degree felony for two or more prior convictions for similar offenses.
Although the bill primarily targets AI-generated material, its broad definition has raised concerns within the anime and manga community.
Texas law defines “obscene material” as content that, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Depending on how lawmakers interpret the term “obscene” in relation to fictional depictions, a wide range of content could potentially fall under this law.
Several popular anime and manga series have portrayed minor characters in ways that could be interpreted as sexualized. If legislators deem certain content unacceptable, major titles such as “Bleach”, “Chainsaw Man”, “Demon Slayer”, “Dandadan”, and others could be affected.
Furthermore, collectors of l*licon anime figurines may also come under scrutiny. Owning or purchasing merchandise of minor characters—such as Marin Kitagawa, Nezuko, or even Anya—could become illegal in Texas, potentially resulting in felony charges if the bill is enacted.
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Via: Texas Senate
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