Garden State Times

The New Jersey Senate has taken a step forward in addressing the issue of unlawful deepfakes by advancing legislation proposed by Senator Kristin Corrado. This bill aims to impose penalties on those who create or share deepfake media for illegal purposes.

Senator Corrado highlighted the potential harm caused by deepfakes, stating, "The public sharing of unlawfully generated 'deepfakes' can be just as devastating for a victim as having a real form of media disseminated without their consent. This is especially true in cases where artificial intelligence has been used to create pornography." She emphasized the need for ethical responsibility and transparency in the digital era, noting that the bipartisan legislation seeks to protect individuals from harmful AI-generated content.

Under this legislation, creating or distributing deepfake audio or visual media with unlawful intent would be considered a third-degree criminal offense. Offenders could face three to five years in prison, fines up to $15,000, or both. The bill also allows courts to impose fines up to $30,000 under certain circumstances.

Moreover, those responsible for producing or distributing such deepfake media could also face civil liabilities toward the depicted individual.

For further details on the legislation S-2544/A-3540, interested parties can access the full text online.