PIERRE, S.D. – February 18, 2026
South Dakota Attorney General Plans New push Against Online crimes, Genetic Data Exploitation
Table of Contents
New legislation aims to bolster protections for children and personal genetic data.
- Attorney General Marty Jackley will introduce bills targeting internet crimes, human trafficking, and genetic privacy during the 2026 Legislative Session.
- One bill focuses on equipping the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with tools to locate the distribution of child pornographic materials within the state.
- Another bill addresses the security of genetic data, stemming from a multi-state lawsuit against 23andMe.
- The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force saw a significant increase in reported tips in 2025.
South Dakota attorney General Marty Jackley is preparing to introduce legislation aimed at combating a surge in online exploitation and safeguarding the privacy of personal genetic data. The bills, slated for the 2026 Legislative Session, represent a proactive step toward addressing evolving threats in the digital age.
Combating Online Exploitation of Children
The first proposed bill would provide the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task force with a new tool to pinpoint the locations within South Dakota where child pornographic materials are being disseminated. This comes as the ICAC Task Force reported a substantial increase in concerning activity.
In 2025, the task force received 2,727 Cybertips related to online sexual exploitation and victimization of children – an increase of 877 tips from the previous year. “To protect children from the devastating impact of child pornography and human trafficking, we must first identify where this material is being distributed,” Jackley stated. “We must strengthen our tools to combat human trafficking and the exploitation of children in our state with the aid of technology. every child deserves safety, and we will do everything possible to ensure it.”
Protecting Genetic Privacy
The second bill focuses on the increasingly important issue of genetic data security. Jackley emphasized the need to protect this sensitive information from misuse.
In June 2025, Jackley joined 28 other Attorneys General in filing a lawsuit against 23andMe, seeking to block the company’s sale without explicit consent. “Protecting DNA data is essential to safeguarding personal privacy and preventing misuse of the most sensitive information we have-our genetic blueprint,” Jackley saeid. “By ensuring common-sense protections, we are defending against threats of the sale of South Dakotans’ DNA that could compromise genetic privacy in South Dakota.”
Once formally filed, the full text of the bills will be available for review here.
Description of Changes & Answers to questions:
* why: Attorney General Marty Jackley is introducing legislation to address a rise in online exploitation of children and concerns about the privacy of genetic data.
* Who: South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, 28 other Attorneys General, and 23andMe are key players.
* What: Two bills are proposed: one to enhance the ICAC Task Force’s ability to locate child exploitation material within South Dakota, and another to protect the genetic data of South Dakota residents. The genetic data protection stems from a lawsuit against 23andMe regarding the sale of user data.
* how did it end?: The article doesn’t detail a final outcome. It states the bills are preparing to be introduced to
