# Virginia SB571: Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty.

Virginia SB571, Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty., is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic); status failed, last action 2024-11-19 (Left in Courts of Justice) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB571-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB571
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2024-01-10
- Last action: 2024-11-19, Left in Courts of Justice
- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (14 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## 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.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024-02-12 | Senate | Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice | pass | 14 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2024-11-19: Left in Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2024-02-12: Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2024-02-12: Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered (Senate)
- 2024-02-02: Impact statement from DPB (SB571) (Senate)
- 2024-01-10: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice (Senate)
- 2024-01-10: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24105058D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2024-02-12: [HTML](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB571)

## Related bills

- HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care. (adopted)
- SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty. (failed)
- HB1746: Public safety officer; definition. (failed)
- HB1600: Budget Bill. (failed)
- SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility. (failed)
- HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for infertility treatment. (to governor)

## Sources
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB571)

## Related
- [HR671: Commending JR's Auto Care.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HR671-2025)
- [SB941: Robbery; use of air or gas operated weapon, etc., penalty.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB941-2025)
- [HB1746: Public safety officer; definition.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1746-2025)
- [HB1600: Budget Bill.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1600-2025)
- [SB1449: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB1449-2025)
- [HB1609: Essential health benefits benchmark plan; Commission to consider coverage for i…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1609-2025)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB571-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).