The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6846 seeks to regulate the use of artificial intelligence and deceptive synthetic media in elections by defining key terms such as "artificial intelligence," "candidate," and "deceptive synthetic media," which includes manipulated content that misrepresents individuals. The bill prohibits the distribution of such deceptive media during the ninety days leading up to an election or primary unless it includes specific disclaimers and is disseminated by certain media entities as part of legitimate news coverage. It also outlines conditions for the distribution of deceptive synthetic media, emphasizing the need for clear disclaimers and citations to original sources.

Violations of this bill can result in misdemeanors or felonies, with penalties including fines and imprisonment, and allow the Attorney General, candidates, or affected individuals to pursue civil actions for injunctive relief or damages. The bill also entitles individuals who initiate legal action to reasonable attorney's fees and costs, as determined by the court. The new provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and the bill clarifies that certain proposed deletions from current law are not applicable, reinforcing the importance of transparency in media communications during elections to protect candidates and voters from misleading information.