As artificial intelligence technology rapidly spreads, the New York state government is planning to tighten regulations. Governor Ho Chu is preparing to push for legislation that would ban the use of AI-generated images in political campaign activities, in order to prevent misleading voters and undermining election fairness.
According to Gothamist, the proposed legislation would focus on prohibiting the dissemination of information that is “knowingly false but still broadcasted to the public, potentially influencing or preventing voters from voting.” It will also strictly prohibit the creation and spread of “deepfake videos or photos without the consent of the individuals involved,” such as synthesizing a candidate’s face onto someone else’s body.
Governor Ho Chu is expected to formally announce this legislative proposal in the State of the State address scheduled for Tuesday.
In a statement released to the media, Governor Ho Chu stated, “With the rise of artificial intelligence and algorithmic social media, malicious individuals are now more than ever capable of spreading misinformation at critical moments, and even influencing election outcomes. Now is the time to take action to protect democracy, otherwise we will face a dangerous downhill path.”
She emphasized that New York state aims to establish “both strong and rational” standards for AI use in elections nationwide, to ensure voters are not misled.
Generative artificial intelligence has already permeated political and social life. Current laws in New York state only require candidates to disclose whether they used AI technology during the election period, but they do not prohibit the actual use of such tools.
However, controversy surrounding AI in the political domain has been prevalent in recent years. During last year’s New York City mayoral election, the campaign team of former Governor Cuomo, who ran as an independent, used AI to create a social media video depicting his opponent at the time, Mamdani, as eating rice with his hands and implying his supporters were involved in criminal activities. The video was quickly taken down after sparking controversy.
The Governor’s office also cited other instances of AI misuse in the political arena. In 2024, former State Assemblyman Keith Wright from Harlem was embroiled in a scandal when scammers created an AI-generated voice that mimicked his, using foul language towards his colleagues, leading to serious damage to his reputation.
Similar incidents have not been limited to New York alone. In New Hampshire, prior to the 2024 primaries, some voters received AI-generated voice calls discouraging them from going to vote.
The Ho Chu administration believes that these cases demonstrate that without regulations, AI technology poses a substantial threat to the electoral system and public trust, hence the necessity of regulating it through legislation.