The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5342 seeks to regulate the distribution of deceptive synthetic media in the context of elections and primaries. It defines "deceptive synthetic media" as manipulated images, audio, or video that misrepresent an individual's speech or conduct. The bill prohibits the distribution of such media during the ninety days leading up to an election or primary if the distributor is aware or should reasonably be aware of its deceptive nature, lacks consent from the depicted individual, and intends to harm a candidate or influence election outcomes. Exceptions are made for media that includes clear disclaimers about its manipulated nature and for certain entities like news organizations that adhere to established guidelines.

The bill establishes penalties for violations, categorizing them as misdemeanors or felonies based on intent and scale, and allows civil actions to be initiated by the Attorney General or affected candidates. Plaintiffs must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has violated the law by distributing or intending to distribute deceptive synthetic media. The bill also includes exemptions for parody or satire that cannot be mistaken for actual speech, clarifies that compliance with federal political advertising laws does not constitute a violation, and protects service providers from liability for transmitting third-party content. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.