Attorney General Alliance

02/27/2026

New Mexico Department of Justice Attorney General Raúl Torrez has brought a number of significant anti-human trafficking and child exploitation actions, and today his office shared practical insight into that work through presentations led by investigators and prosecutors from the New Mexico Department of Justice. The sessions offered a substantive, ground-level look at how human trafficking and child sexual abuse material cases are identified, investigated, and prosecuted.

The sessions explored how coordinated law enforcement strategies can disrupt trafficking operations through aligned priorities, joint planning, and sustained interagency collaboration, particularly when victims are identified and need immediate, survivor-informed support.

Presenters also walked through the critical role of Internet Crimes Against Children units, highlighting current trends in online exploitation, emerging digital threats, and the realities investigators face in bringing these complex cases forward, including the importance of mental health support for those doing this work. Presenters also provided case-based discussions detailing how investigations are built, charged, and advanced through prosecution, with practical lessons and best practices.

These discussions reflect the broader leadership of AG Torrez as Chair of the Attorney General Alliance and his leadership of the 2026 Chair’s Initiative, Protecting Children from Online Exploitation and Human Trafficking. The initiative underscores the same core themes raised today: coordinated enforcement, prevention, accountability, and sustained, bipartisan collaboration across law enforcement, policymakers, and partners.

02/25/2026

Today, New Mexico Department of Justice Attorney General Raúl Torrez and New Mexico State Representative Serrato made a presentation examining how legislatures can advance meaningful, bipartisan protections for children in an increasingly digital world. The discussion focused on practical safeguards, enforcement needs, and the challenges of advancing AI-related legislation.

That conversation reflects the broader work AG Torrez leads nationally as Chair of AGA. His 2026 Chair’s Initiative, Protecting Children from Online Exploitation and Human Trafficking, emphasizes prevention through education and safer digital practices, accountability for those who exploit technology to harm children, and support for victims and survivors. It also recognizes that attorneys general cannot address these threats alone, but that success depends on partnership with legislators, law enforcement, advocates, educators, industry, and community stakeholders.

02/23/2026

Thank you to NC Department of Justice and Attorney General's Office Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Utah Attorney General's Office Attorney General Derek Brown for their leadership of today’s AI Task Force meeting, and to the many attorney general office staff who participated and contributed their expertise.

Today’s briefings focused on child safety and protecting children from online exploitation in the context of rapidly advancing AI technology. The discussion reflected the value of bipartisan collaboration and practical problem-solving, bringing attorneys general together to focus on real-world safeguards and solutions.

Today’s meeting also set the table for a strong week ahead as these conversations continue during the 2026 Chair’s Initiative, “Protecting Children from Online Exploitation and Human Trafficking.” We look forward to building on this momentum—sharing resources, strengthening coordination, and equipping attorneys general.

02/10/2026

Today is Safer Internet Day, a reminder that protecting people online requires collaboration across government, industry, and civil society.

The Attorney General Alliance has long worked alongside the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security to help attorneys general and their teams better understand emerging cyber risks and the practical steps needed to address them. CISA experts have participated in numerous AGA convenings over the years, sharing real-world insights that strengthen public-sector readiness and public awareness alike.

That collaboration was on display recently during our Alaska convening, where CISA leaders joined attorneys general, federal partners, and private-sector experts to address evolving cyber threats and consumer risks. We encourage you to visit CISA’s website and review their actionable guidance.

Here’s the official CISA web page that directly focuses on Threat Intelligence and Information Sharing:

https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cyber-threats-and-advisories/information-sharing

On Safer Internet Day, AGA is grateful for CISA’s continued partnership and shared commitment to education, resilience, and collaboration. We look forward to building on this work in the years ahead as attorneys general continue to play a critical role in protecting consumers, communities, and critical systems in an increasingly digital world.

02/10/2026

Thank you to the many nonprofit and advocate partners who joined us for the convening of the Partnership for Youth Online Safety. We’d like to give a special thanks to our inaugural partners, the Center for Humane Technology.

This meeting provided an important opportunity to build on the Partnership’s momentum and continue shaping the work ahead. Participants shared perspectives, aligned on priorities, and reinforced a collective commitment to developing meaningful strategies and resources.

We hope this continued collaboration will help generate practical outcomes that support the Partnership’s mission to strengthen youth safety in digital environments.

We are grateful for the time, insight, and commitment our partners continue to bring to this important work.

02/05/2026

Grateful to Office of the Nebraska Attorney General Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Tania Maestas, Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel of the Attorney General Alliance, for providing such thoughtful remarks at the 2026 Interactive Advertising Bureau Annual Leadership Meeting.

As one of the most influential convenings in the digital advertising, media, and technology ecosystem, the IAB Annual Leadership Meeting brings together senior leaders to shape how emerging issues, from AI to privacy, will be addressed in the year ahead. That makes the panel that AG Hilgers and Tania participated in, Guardrails for the Future: Attorneys General on Consumer Protection, AI, and Privacy, especially consequential.

The role of attorneys general continues to command national attention across every sector, reflecting the real-world impact AGs have on consumer protection, privacy, and accountability in a rapidly evolving digital marketplace. Engaging directly with industry leaders at forums like IAB is critical to informing the public and advancing shared responsibility around these issues.

Thank you to Attorney General Hilgers for his leadership and thoughtful perspective, and to IAB for elevating this important dialogue.

01/23/2026

Join New Mexico Attorney General and AGA Chair Raúl Torrez as he convenes attorneys general, law enforcement leaders, advocates, and private-sector partners for a meeting of his Chair’s Initiative "Protecting Children from Online Exploitation and Human Trafficking."

The meeting will take place February 24-26, 2026, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It will bring together attorneys general and key partners to advance coordinated strategies to combat online exploitation and child trafficking, strengthen prevention through education and safer digital practices, and promote policies that reinforce accountability, disrupt criminal networks, and provide long-term support for children and families.

01/14/2026

AGA thanks Co-Chairs NC Department of Justice and Attorney General's Office AG Jeff Jackson and Utah Attorney General's Office AG Derek Brown for clearly articulating a shared vision for addressing one of the most complex and fast-moving policy challenges facing attorneys general at today’s inaugural meeting of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force.

Their leadership helped frame the importance of a bipartisan, practical forum focused on understanding emerging AI risks, identifying reasonable safeguards, and ensuring state attorneys general and their staff are equipped to respond as this technology continues to evolve.

We are also grateful to the over 160 attorneys general, staff, and private-sector partners who participated in the discussion and contributed thoughtful perspectives during this first convening. The engagement - especially the highlighting of key issues from each of the nearly two dozen AG offices - underscored both the urgency of the issue and the value (and need) of ongoing collaboration across public, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors.

This inaugural meeting helped establish a clear blueprint for future AI Task Force discussions that are grounded in information-sharing, problem-solving, and coordination, so that attorneys general are better positioned to protect consumers, especially children, while monitoring rapid developments in artificial intelligence.

AGA looks forward to building on this foundation as the AI Task Force continues its work to support state attorneys general in navigating the opportunities and challenges posed by AI.

01/12/2026

Final opportunity to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Artificial Intelligence Task Force - a nationwide, bipartisan initiative of state attorneys general, in partnership with leading AI developers and stakeholders, to identify emerging issues in artificial intelligence, develop basic safeguards to protect the public, especially children, and create a standing forum to monitor developments and coordinate timely responses to new AI challenges.

This first convening of the Task Force will take place Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM CT and will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Following introductory remarks from Co-Chairs NC Department of Justice and Attorney General's Office Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Utah Attorney General's Office Attorney General Derek Brown, the discussion will focus on emerging artificial intelligence topics and the importance of maintaining a standing forum to discuss, track, and monitor new developments in AI.

The AI Task Force is intended to provide a forum to share perspectives on evolving trends, potential risks, and policy considerations related to artificial intelligence, as well as to identify areas for future collaboration. This inaugural meeting will help set the foundation for ongoing dialogue and coordination.

Attorney General staff and private sector partners are invited to attend and listen in.

Those interested in participating should RSVP to [email protected] to request a Teams link.

01/08/2026

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, who serves as Co-Chair of AGA’s Organized Retail Crime Working Group, continues to pair strong enforcement with clear consumer education.

AG Carr announced indictments against eight individuals charged in an organized retail theft scheme targeting major retailers in DeKalb County, underscoring how retail crime fuels broader criminal activity. At the same time, he is helping lead AGA’s nationwide public education effort with the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance, reminding consumers that gift cards are safe when used properly and vigilance is key to stopping fraud.

These efforts reflect the ORC Working Group’s core mission to provide meaningful partnerships to help protect consumers and communities.
https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-01-08/carr-indicts-eight-dekalb-county-thefts-targeting-home-depot-target

https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2025-12-22/ags-unite-keep-gift-cards-safe

DEKALB COUNTY, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that his Organized Retail Crime Unit has obtained indictments against eight individuals in DeKalb County. The defendants are alleged to have engaged in numerous incidents of thefts targeting The Home Depot, Inc. (The Home Depot), Targ...

01/06/2026

AGA’s Organized Retail Crime Working Group, which focuses on practical, collaborative ways to address fraud that harms consumers and supports broader criminal activity. Clear guidance and coordinated leadership can go a long way in helping people protect themselves.

AGA is pleased to partner with the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance (https://protectmygiftcard.com/) on a public service announcement campaign aimed at helping consumers avoid gift card fraud during the busy holiday redemption season. The campaign runs through January 31, 2026 and has brought together attorneys general from across the country around a shared message: gift cards are safe, but staying alert it critical to prevent fraud.

In addition to individual videos tailored to their states, the video below highlights each participating attorney general in one PSA. Together, they walk through how scammers target gift cards, what consumers should watch for, and why reporting fraud quickly to a state attorney general’s office is so important .

We appreciate the partnership with the Gift Card Fraud Prevention Alliance and the attorneys general who lent their voices to this campaign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9eCHxULVn0&t=1s

PSAs Raise Awareness and Encourage Reporting of Gift Card Fraud During Peak Redemption Season