The proposed bill seeks to prohibit deepfake pornography and impose both criminal and civil penalties for the non-consensual disclosure of such material. It amends existing laws to include the creation and distribution of "deceptive audio or visual media," which misrepresents a person's actions or speech, as a criminal offense. The bill introduces new definitions for this type of media and expands the scope of violations to cover unauthorized disclosures of images or media depicting individuals in sexual acts or with exposed intimate parts. Violators may face fines up to $30,000, and the bill outlines affirmative defenses for those who provide prior notice of their intent to engage in such conduct.

Additionally, the bill enhances protections against child exploitation by including "deceptive audio or visual media" in the definitions related to child abuse. It establishes strict liability for individuals who depict minors in prohibited sexual acts, regardless of their knowledge of the child's age, and increases penalties for possession or distribution of child exploitation materials, with mandatory minimum sentences based on the number of items involved. The legislation allows individuals harmed by non-consensual disclosures to bring civil actions in the Superior Court, with potential awards for damages and attorney's fees, and clarifies that a criminal conviction is not required for a civil action to proceed. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:14-9, 2A:58D-1