# 116-hr-6088: Deepfakes in Federal Elections Prohibition Act

116-hr-6088, Deepfakes in Federal Elections Prohibition Act, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA); status Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6088
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-6088
- Congress: 116
- Title: Deepfakes in Federal Elections Prohibition Act
- Status: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Introduced: 2020-03-04
- Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Deepfakes in Federal Elections Prohibition Act This bill prohibits the distribution of certain deceptive audio or visual media (i.e., deepfakes) within 60 days of a federal election and establishes criminal penalties for related violations. The bill generally prohibits individuals, political committees, and other entities from distributing with actual malice any materially deceptive audio or visual media of a candidate within 60 days of a federal election with the intent to (1) injure the candidate's reputation, or (2) deceive a voter into voting for or against the candidate. Such prohibition does not apply to (1) audio or visual media containing certain disclosures (e.g., verbal or written statements); or (2) certain entities, such as radio or television broadcasting stations that broadcast such media with disclosures as part of a bona fide newscast. Additionally, the bill establishes a new criminal offense related to the distribution of materially deceptive audio or visual media prior to a federal election. A violator is subject to a fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both. It also permits a candidate whose voice or likeness appears in such deceptive audio or visual media to bring a civil action for damages.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2020-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2020-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] (D-TN), 2020-03-04T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-8662: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
- 116-hr-8433: Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8363: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 116-hr-8270: I am Vanessa Guillén Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8017: MOTION Act
- 116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-6088 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6088)

## Related
- [116-hr-8662: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8662)
- [116-hr-8433: Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8433)
- [116-hr-8363: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8363)
- [116-hr-8270: I am Vanessa Guillén Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8270)
- [116-hr-8017: MOTION Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8017)
- [116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8015)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6088 (as of 2025-11-18).