Public Citizen Unveils New Tracker for Intimate Deepfake Legislation
Washington, D.C. — Today, Public Citizen launched a new, interactive tracker for state-level bills regulating AI-generated intimate deepfakes, or deepfake porn.
The tracker identifies 136 legislative proposals to address nonconsensual intimate deepfakes introduced in 39 states. Twenty-three states have enacted new laws to regulate AI-generated intimate deepfakes with broad, bipartisan support. Nearly 30 bills remain in limbo, either awaiting a vote in the state legislature or a governor’s signature.
Nonconsensual intimate deepfakes are proliferating rapidly, overwhelmingly targeting women and especially girls. Intimate deepfakes, falsely but convincingly depicting people naked or engaged in sexual acts, can cause serious harm, with victims reporting experiencing significant emotional consequences and trauma, as well as damage to their reputations and careers.
“The rising tide of non-consensual intimate deepfakes is a threat to everyone from A-list celebrities to middle schoolers,” said Ilana Beller, democracy advocate for Public Citizen. “Creating and sharing deepfake porn must be treated like the devastating crime that it is. Legislators in numerous states are making progress, but we need legislation to pass in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in order to ensure all people are protected from the serious harms of deepfake porn.”
To assist state legislators interested in drafting their own bills, Public Citizen has created a model law that policymakers can use as a template.
The tracker and corresponding map will be updated frequently as bills progress.
For more information, or to speak with an expert on the topic, please contact Emily Leach at eleact@citizen.org.