Rep. Brad Thomas, R-Ga., proposed legislation aimed at banning the use of deepfakes in politics. Deepfakes utilize artificial intelligence to manipulate audio and video, raising concerns about their potential to mislead voters.
To garner support from lawmakers, Thomas presented a case to the Judiciary Committee by showcasing a deepfake video featuring the voices of Georgia state Sen. Colton Moore, R, and former Republican congressional candidate Mallory Staples. Both of the deepfaked politicians oppose the legislation, citing free speech and satire.
The video falsely endorsed the proposed bill and Thomas emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue to prevent abuses in future elections. Thomas stressed how easily accessible these AI tools are, warning that their sophistication outpaces current legislation.
Following deliberation, the bill received bipartisan support, passing out of committee with an 8-1 vote.
This legislation comes in response to the proliferation of AI-generated content, with recent incidents including a call impersonating President Joe Biden.
Violators of the law would face penalties of prison time and fines.
Thomas acknowledged the challenges of enforcing the law but expressed confidence in the collaboration between law enforcement agencies to address election-related fraud.
