To protect the integrity of Pennsylvania elections and the right of our voters to make decisions based on accurate information, I will soon introduce legislation to prohibit the publication of AI-generated deepfakes targeting candidates for public office during the critical weeks before an election.

Generative AI technology has advanced to the point where fabricated video, audio, and images of real people can be nearly impossible to distinguish from authentic content. These “deepfakes” can put words in a candidate’s mouth, fabricate damaging conduct, or deceive voters about what a candidate actually stands for. Across the country, voters have already been exposed to synthetic media designed to manipulate their choices.

In response, twenty-nine states have already enacted laws addressing AI deepfakes in elections, including our neighbors in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Pennsylvania is one of the few large battleground states that has not acted. That gap makes our Commonwealth a more attractive target for bad actors in every election cycle going forward.

My legislation will prohibit AI-generated or AI-altered video, audio, or images depicting a candidate for public office during the 90 days before an election, where the publisher intends to harm the candidate’s reputation or to deceive voters about the candidate’s conduct or positions. Deepfakes threaten candidates regardless of affiliation and undermine the ability of every Pennsylvania voter to make an informed choice.

This is not a partisan issue. The Minnesota and Texas laws that serve as the model for this bill both passed with broad bipartisan support. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to protect Pennsylvania voters and the integrity of our elections.