Senate Bill No. 217, introduced by Senator Miguez, amends the Election Code to include a definition for "deep fake." The bill defines "deep fake" as synthetic media created with the intent to mislead or deceive others, specifically depicting a candidate through video, image, or sound recording without their consent. However, it exempts any media that clearly displays a notice indicating that it is computer-generated or not a genuine depiction of a person or events. This new definition is added as R.S. 18:2(16), while the existing definitions from R.S. 18:2(2) through (15) are amended and reenacted.

The bill aims to address the growing concern over misinformation in political campaigns and elections, particularly through the use of advanced media manipulation technologies. The effective date for this legislation is set for August 1, 2024. The Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs has proposed technical amendments to ensure clarity and precision in the language of the bill.

Statutes affected:
SB217 Original: 18:2(2)
SB217 Engrossed: 18:2(2)