The bill introduces a new chapter, CHAPTER 30, titled "Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Election Communications," to Title 17 of the General Laws concerning elections. It defines "synthetic media" as an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated using generative adversarial network techniques or other digital technology to create a realistic but false representation. The bill prohibits candidates, their campaign committees, political action committees, and other entities from distributing deceptive synthetic media within 90 days of an election unless a clear disclosure is provided indicating that the media has been manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence. Specific guidelines for the size and clarity of disclosures are established for both visual and audio media.

Additionally, the bill grants candidates the right to seek injunctive or equitable relief and damages if their appearance, actions, or speech are depicted through synthetic media in violation of this chapter. It outlines that the plaintiff bears the burden of establishing the violation through clear and convincing evidence. Certain exceptions are included, such as protections for broadcasting stations and publications that clearly state the synthetic media does not accurately represent a candidate, as well as provisions that do not restrict the ability to detect or respond to illegal activities. The provisions of this chapter are designed to be severable, ensuring that if any part is deemed invalid, the remaining sections will still be enforceable. The act will take effect upon passage.