New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy officially signed a bill on April 2 that imposes criminal liability on the production and dissemination of misleading artificial intelligence audiovisual content, commonly known as “deepfakes.” This legislation aims to combat the rampant fake video technology and protect citizen privacy. New Jersey became the first state in the United States to classify the production and distribution of false audiovisual materials as a crime.
Murphy stated, “I am proud to sign this bill, which signifies our firm opposition to the deception and harm brought by deepfake technology. While artificial intelligence is a powerful tool, it must be used responsibly. Our government is committed to combating false information, upholding media integrity, and standing with victims of deepfakes.”
The new law stipulates that anyone who produces or disseminates deceptive images or audio data with the intent to engage in further criminal activities will be regarded as a third-degree crime, potentially facing 3 to 5 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $30,000.
Currently, more than 20 states have passed similar laws regulating election-related fake audiovisual material created using generative AI. New Jersey has joined this expanding legislative trend.
According to a review by The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, as of last year, over ten states in the U.S. have enacted laws to combat digitally created or altered child sexual abuse images, demonstrating the states’ high level of concern regarding the misuse of AI technology.
Part of the inspiration for this law came from the brave advocacy of 17-year-old student Francesca Mani. She suffered significant harm after classmates created and distributed AI-generated inappropriate images of her. In response, she launched an advocacy campaign and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the field of AI.