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<section article="gel" article_name="Election Law" number="16-905" title_number="16" title_name="Offenses and Penalties" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Other Offenses">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Deepfake” means an image, an audio recording, or a video recording that has been intentionally created or manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence or other digital technology to create a realistic but false depiction of a person that an ordinary person would conclude is an actual visual or audio representation of the person depicted.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Influence” has the meaning stated in § 16–201 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section does not apply:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>with respect to a deepfake that is satire or parody;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>to a radio or television broadcasting station, including a cable or satellite television operator, programmer, or producer, or an affiliate of the radio or television broadcasting station, that broadcasts a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the broadcast is required by the federal law that requires broadcasters to air advertisements from legally qualified candidates;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the broadcast is part of a bona fide newscast, a news interview, a news documentary, or on–the–spot coverage of bona fide news events;  or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the broadcaster has been paid to broadcast the deepfake;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>to a website or regularly published newspaper, magazine, or other periodical of general circulation, including an Internet or electronic publication, that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest and that publishes a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>to any online publisher or service provider for acts that would be subject to immunity under 47 U.S.C. § 230.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A person may not knowingly or with reckless disregard create, use, or disseminate a deepfake to produce materially false information if:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the person has the intent to use the deepfake to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>impede, influence, prevent, or attempt to impede, influence, or prevent a voter’s decision to cast a ballot;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>misrepresent facts relating to voter registration, voting methods, election results, electoral processes, or official duties of an election official;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>induce or attempt to induce another individual to sign or not sign a petition for a question to appear on a ballot; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>influence or attempt to influence a voter’s decision whether to vote for or against a candidate or ballot issue; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the creation, use, or dissemination of the deepfake results, or has the intent to result, in harm to a voter, potential voter, or petition.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A person who violates subsection (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years or both.</text>
  </level>
</section>
