VirginiaSB5712025 Regular SessionSenate

Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty.

Sponsored By: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)

Failed

Summary

Synthetic media; penalty. Expands the applicability of provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to include synthetic media, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to generate, create, or use or cause to be generated, created, or used any deceptive audio or visual media, defined in the bill, for the purpose of committing a criminal offense involving fraud. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that such deceptive audio or visual media was generated or created for the purpose of committing such criminal offense if such deceptive audio or visual media is subsequently used as part of a plan or course of conduct to commit such criminal offense. The bill also authorizes the individual depicted in the deceptive audio or visual media to bring a civil action against the person who violates such prohibition to recover actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and such other relief as the court determines to be appropriate. The bill directs the Attorney General to convene a work group to study and make recommendations on the current enforcement of laws related to the use of deceptive audio or visual media, including deepfakes, and any further action needed to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Adam P. Ebbin

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/12/2024

Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Left in Courts of Justice

    11/19/2024Senate
  2. Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)

    2/12/2024Senate
  3. Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

    2/12/2024Senate
  4. Impact statement from DPB (SB571)

    2/2/2024Senate
  5. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    1/10/2024Senate
  6. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24105058D

    1/10/2024Senate

Bill Text

  • Introduced

    2/12/2024

Related Bills

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