The bill amends the Revised Code to strengthen protections against the unauthorized use of an individual's persona and addresses the growing concern of deepfake recordings. It redefines "persona" to include an individual's name, voice, signature, photograph, image, likeness, or distinctive appearance without requiring commercial value. New definitions for "deepfake recording" and "malicious deepfake recording" are introduced, mandating that individuals obtain written consent before creating or distributing such recordings. The bill allows individuals harmed by violations to pursue civil actions for damages and clarifies that consent is not necessary for certain uses, such as news reporting or political campaigns.

Additionally, the legislation establishes specific provisions for handling malicious deepfake recordings, including capping statutory damages at $15,000 for violations valued at $150,000 or more, and allowing actions to be initiated within four years of the violation. It outlines penalties for extortion and sexual extortion related to the distribution of private images and deepfake recordings, with varying penalties based on prior convictions and victim status. The bill also provides immunity to information service providers from liability when complying with court orders related to these offenses, while repealing existing sections of the Revised Code to implement these changes.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 2741.01, 2741.02, 2741.05, 2741.06, 2741.09, 2905.11