Elections; election offenses; dissemination of artificial audio or artificial visual media to influence an election; penalty. Prohibits any person from disseminating artificial audio or artificial visual media, as defined in the bill, intended to influence a political campaign that such person knows or should have known is deceptive or misleading. The bill provides that such prohibition shall not apply if such media includes a conspicuous statement that states "THIS MEDIA DOES NOT REPRESENT A TRUE RECORDING OF THE CANDIDATE" either for the duration of a visual media or a verbal reading of such statement at the beginning of audio media. The bill provides that any person who fails to include such statement shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $50, but if such person disseminates such artificial audio or artificial visual media being disseminated (i) takes place within 90 days before an election, (ii) is made without the consent of the depicted candidate, and (iii) is made with the intent to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election, such person is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill also provides that any (a) depicted individual, (b) candidate for office who has been injured or is likely to be injured by the distribution of artificial audio or artificial visual media, or (c) entity that represents the interests of voters likely to be deceived by such dissemination shall be entitled to institute an action in the circuit court of the locality where venue would be proper for the prosecution of computer crimes for preventative relief, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, against the person who has disseminated the artificial audio or artificial visual media. The bill also provides exceptions for certain content, including when such content constitutes satire or parody.

Statutes affected:
Courts of Justice Substitute: 8.01-261, 19.2-249.2
Privileges and Elections Substitute: 24.2-955, 24.2-955.1, 24.2-955.3, 24.2-960