Ban on “Synthetic Media” in Elections (H 7387A, S 2456)

We urged caution in trying to quickly control the new world of artificial intelligence with this bill that would regulate electoral communications generated by artificial intelligence, and which would allow politicians to seek injunctions against “deceptive” AI-generated communications.

We urged caution in trying to quickly control the new world of artificial intelligence with this bill that would regulate electoral communications generated by artificial intelligence, and which would allow politicians to seek injunctions against “deceptive” AI-generated communications. We argued that public officials could easily use the law to deter the exercise of protected free speech by individuals using AI, and that the full ramifications of regulating AI in the political sphere — where First Amendment protection is at its zenith — needed much more careful consideration. This bill passed the House, but died in the Senate.