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, 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, particularly through the use of manipulated media. The effective date for this legislation is set for August 1, 2024. The proposed law retains the current definitions of various terms related to elections while introducing the new definition of "deep fake" to enhance clarity and accountability in the electoral process.

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