HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Legislation that would classify computer-generated “deepfakes” as digital fraud in Pennsylvania took a major step toward becoming law, as it passed the state Senate with a unanimous vote.
The legislation is a joint effort between Montgomery County Republican state Sen. Tracey Pennycuick and Chester and Delaware County Democratic state Sen. John Kane. It would amend existing fraud laws in Pennsylvania to include “deepfakes” — AI-generated images, videos, or audio that present someone saying or doing something they never actually did.
“A simple internet search will yield countless real-life examples of instances of lives that have been turned upside down,” said Pennycuick, “often with no legal recourse because a bad actor created and distributed a deep fake in their likeness.”
Pennycuick said the bill has protections for parody, satire, or other First Amendment-protected speech but would allow prosecution in cases with malicious intent.
“Any person who creates a deepfake of a real individual or distributes it as genuine with the intent to defraud or injure would face legal penalties.”
Kane said the bill would not only protect an individual’s reputation, but also aim to protect people from being defrauded by a deepfake intended to make someone think a loved one is in trouble and needs money.
The bill now heads to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.