State Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) on Thursday introduced legislation aimed at curbing the misuse of artificial intelligence to create harmful digital replicas of real people.
The measure, known as the Digital Dignity Act, would strengthen penalties for defamation and false impersonation involving AI-generated images, video or audio, according to a press release.
It would also require large online platforms that create and host generative AI content to provide clear processes for individuals to request removal of unauthorized digital replicas.
Becker said the bill is intended to address growing concerns over deepfakes used to commit fraud, spread misinformation and damage reputations.
The legislation would establish accountability for those who knowingly distribute harmful AI-generated replicas that violate existing defamation, impersonation or publicity laws, according to Becker’s office.
It also builds on current legal protections, while seeking to preserve free expression and responsible innovation.
“Artificial intelligence should empower people, and not be weaponized against them,” said Senator Becker. “No one should have their voice, face, or identity stolen by an algorithm and used to defraud others, damage their reputation, or violate their dignity.”
The bill has been introduced for consideration in the state Legislature.
…. on the surface it sounds reasonable
Good luck with that…
Opens up opportunities for democrats to deny actual videos of them
being stupid. Then again could law be used to stifle creativity of
satirists ? ? ? ?
https://shorturl.at/u81oC
The deep fakes are rampant on platforms like X… I don’t use most of the other sites. They are probably as bad or worse. I don’t know why people (prime example, Victor Davis Hanson) don’t sue every site that allows the fakes of his face and voice.
I do really like X’s Grok AI. Ask a silly question, get a silly answer… but the actual answer will most likely be correct. Frequently have to ask if a post is AI generated, and if it is, Grok will say Yes and give reasons to prove it’s faked.
Good luck with that one! The genie is out of the bottle.
All an ‘honest’ poster has to do is add a very-visible TAG saying it’s satire, or ‘content is ALTERED or ENHANCED with AI face/voice.’ That seems like a fair and easy trade-off.
Can’t disagree with the stated purpose of this Bill if it is well worded. I haven’t seen it. But I’ll bet
the last words on it are: “…and for other purposes.” Or something like that. They both Dems and Reps. end every Bill with the intention of having it tagged for other personal/constituent-money-maker Riders.
Any A.I. generated audio or video should be labeled as such. I’d rather ban these A.I. produced audio and video products if we could.
Nothing much surprises me anymore here in the People’s Democratic Republic of California.
What people don’t understand is that this will help protect people who have been victim to all sorts of AI deepfakes including deepfakes of pornographic depictions. People all over the world are now having these being created of them and these can be dangerous for them. People have had these made and then spread into the work place or even made of minors and spread online or into school systems. There is a documentary I believe its on netflix of one that was made of a girl and ended leading to her suicide because of its spread through her entire school and town because of people believing it was real. Hopefully this will work out the way it sounds and end up protecting people for the dangers of AI. AI has its uses but also its dangers, it all depends how we use it.
There are currently laws on the books that address fraud and mischief. What a waste of the electrical grid CA Senator Sir. Anyone knowingly gathering information without the express written consent of the group or individual has already committed the crime. In other words, you cannot film anyone in public or private. PERIOD.