Georgia Lawmakers Create Political Deepfake to Push for Ban
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Georgia lawmakers created a deepfake video of a state senator to demonstrate the need for a bill outlawing political deepfakes. The video falsely shows the senator endorsing the bill.
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The bill would make it a felony to publish deceptive media like deepfakes that could significantly influence an election or confuse election administration.
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The bill comes as AI tools allow increasingly realistic fake videos and audio, but regulations lag behind the technology's capabilities to mislead voters.
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Enforcement may be challenging, but the bill gives jurisdiction to the state attorney general and Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate violations.
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One lawmaker said "fraud is fraud," arguing deepfakes used for political purposes should not be protected as free speech.