Relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

New lawsuit rights for online impersonation

Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas law lets people injured by qualifying social media impersonation sue the impersonator. It covers using someone's name, voice, signature, or likeness in visual material without consent. For minors, consent must come from a parent, legal guardian, or managing conservator. The impersonator must knowingly create a false identity with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten. A reasonable person must find the impersonation nearly impossible to distinguish from an actual person. Winning claimants are entitled to actual damages, including counseling, identity-theft, or libel expenses; the impersonator's related profits may count. They may also receive punitive damages of at least $500. Courts must award costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the winning party, including a winning defendant. A claimant depicted in the impersonation can ask for a temporary restraining order or temporary or permanent injunction. This remedy adds to other legal remedies. Satire and parody are excluded, as are law enforcement agencies and employees acting within their duties to investigate internet crimes. The law does not make online services liable for content someone else provides.