State posture profileMontana

Montana digital reality posture profile

Public-source posture estimateNot legal adviceState reviewed2026-07-07 · 7 July 2026

This page summarizes six tracked digital safety topics for Montana, showing where public legislative coverage currently looks more proactive, more reactive, broader, or thinner. It is a structural posture signal based on public disclosures, not a political or legal grade.

Educational summary only

Not legal advice. Laws and enforcement change frequently. Verify current official statutes, regulations, and counsel where needed.

Overall state posture signal

Reactive-leaning posture with narrow tracked coverage.

Based on six tracked topics and public disclosures.

Low confidence6 tracked topics

Posture meter

Lean and breadth across six tracked topics. Not a quality or political score.

Reactive-leaning
ReactiveMixedProactive

Lean

Reactive-leaning

Breadth

Narrow tracked coverage

State/topic detailMontana

Montana Synthetic Explicit Content law summary

Specific rule in effect.

Based on direct statute tracking.

Montana makes it a crime to share sexually explicit deepfakes of a real, identifiable person without their consent. The state's "Disclosing Explicit Synthetic Media" law (MCA 45-5-640, enacted in 2025 as SB 413) reaches images created or altered using technical means, including artificial intelligence, and expressly covers an artificially generated depiction of a person's genitals, breasts, or pubic area. Separately, a 2025 update to Montana's child sexual abuse statute (MCA 45-5-625, from HB 82) now covers computer-generated child pornography, including a depiction of an individual indistinguishable from an actual minor created by the use of artificial intelligence. Both statutes are in effect, based on public records as of July 2026.

Educational summary only

Not legal advice. Laws and enforcement change frequently. Verify current official statutes, regulations, and counsel where needed.

Why this status

Based on direct statute tracking.

What this means

  • Montana has enacted, in-effect statutes that specifically reach AI-generated explicit deepfakes of identifiable real people (MCA 45-5-640) and computer-generated/AI child sexual abuse material (MCA 45-5-625).

What to do next

  • Read the cited statute or bill text linked below to confirm the specifics for your state.

Citation-grade sources

Official sources

3
  • MCA 45-5-625, Sexual Abuse of Children (official Montana Code Annotated)

    Official text

    Citation: MCA 45-5-625 'Sexual Abuse of Children' defines 'computer-generated child pornography' to include a depiction indistinguishable from an actual minor created by artificial intelligence, reaching synthetic CSAM (amended by HB 82, 2025).

    Observed: 2026-07-07
    Open source
  • MCA 45-5-640, Disclosing Explicit Synthetic Media (official Montana Code Annotated)

    Official text

    Citation: MCA 45-5-640 'Disclosing Explicit Synthetic Media' (En. Sec. 1, Ch. 606, L. 2025 / SB 413) defines synthetic media as content created or altered using AI and criminalizes non-consensual disclosure of explicit synthetic media of an identifiable person.

    Observed: 2026-07-07
    Open source
  • Montana DOJ (AG Knudsen) press release supporting HB 82

    Official text

    Citation: Montana DOJ press release dated Jan 9, 2025 backing HB 82 states the bill would allow prosecution of predators using artificial intelligence to digitally alter images, corroborating the AI-CSAM expansion of MCA 45-5-625.

    Observed: 2026-07-07
    Open source

Provenance

Source basis

Official/public links curated

Confidence

High confidence

Review scope

Review centered on currently tracked state-level law

Last reviewed

2026-07-07 · 7 July 2026

References

  • MCA 45-5-625, Sexual Abuse of Children (official Montana Code Annotated)

  • MCA 45-5-640, Disclosing Explicit Synthetic Media (official Montana Code Annotated)

  • Montana DOJ (AG Knudsen) press release supporting HB 82

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