WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 1 REQUIREMENT TYPE
How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
(a)(1) "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that (A) can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments, and (B) uses machine and human-based inputs to (i) perceive real and virtual environments, (ii) abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner, and (iii) formulate options for information or action through model inference;Section 1(a)(1)" means a machine-based system that (A) can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments, and (B) uses machine and human-based inputs to (i) perceive real and virtual environments, (ii) abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner, and (iii) formulate options for information or action through model inference;
(a)(2) "CandidateCandidate"Candidate" means any individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to public office whether or not such individual is elected;Section 1(a)(2)" means any individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5) who seeks nomination for electionElection"Election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(4), or electionElection"Election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(4), to public office whether or not such individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5) is elected;
(a)(3) "Deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3)" means any image, audio or video of an individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5), and any representation of such individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5)'s appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5) when such individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5) did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that (A) can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments, and (B) uses machine and human-based inputs to (i) perceive real and virtual environments, (ii) abstract such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner, and (iii) formulate options for information or action through model inference;Section 1(a)(1) or other means;
(a)(4)–(7) "ElectionElection"Election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(4)" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of the general statutes; (5) "IndividualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5)" means a human being; (6) "PersonPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6)" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes; and (7) "PrimaryPrimary"Primary" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-372 of the general statutes.Section 1(a)(7)" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-372 of the general statutes.
Section 1(a) establishes the defined terms used throughout the bill. The key definition is deceptive synthetic media, which covers any AI-generated or AI-manipulated image, audio, or video of an individual that a reasonable person would believe is genuine when the individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in the depicted speech or conduct. The definition is technology-neutral — it reaches content generated through artificial intelligence or other means, broadening coverage beyond pure AI tools to any manipulation technique.
(b) 1 Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, no personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) shall distribute, or enter into any agreement to distribute, a communication containing any image, audio or video of an individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5) during the ninety-day period preceding any electionElection"Election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(4) or primaryPrimary"Primary" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-372 of the general statutes.Section 1(a)(7) if: (1) Such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) knows or should reasonably know that such image, audio or video is deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3); (2) The communication containing such deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) is distributed without the consent of such individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5); and (3) Such distribution is intended to injure a candidateCandidate"Candidate" means any individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to public office whether or not such individual is elected;Section 1(a)(2) or influence the result of such electionElection"Election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(4) or primaryPrimary"Primary" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-372 of the general statutes.Section 1(a)(7).
Section 1(b) establishes the bill's core prohibition: no person may distribute, or agree to distribute, a communication containing deceptive synthetic media depicting an individual during the 90-day period preceding any election or primary. The prohibition applies only when three conditions are met: the distributor knows or should reasonably know the content is deceptive synthetic media, it is distributed without the depicted individual's consent, and the distribution is intended to injure a candidate or influence the election result. The intent-to-injure element and the constructive-knowledge standard together define the scope of liability.
(c)(1)(A)–(C) 2 A personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) may distribute, or enter into an agreement to distribute, a communication containing deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) during the ninety-day period preceding a primaryPrimary"Primary" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-372 of the general statutes.Section 1(a)(7) or electionElection"Election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(4) if: (1) For such deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) that: (A) Is an image or consists only of an image, (i) a disclaimer stating "This communication contains an image that has been manipulated" or "This image has been manipulated", as applicable, appears in text that is clearly visible to and easily readable by the average viewer and is not smaller than the largest font size of any other text appearing in such communication, and (ii) in the case of any such image that was generated by editing or manipulating an existing image, a citation directing such viewer to the original source from which the unedited or unmanipulated version of such existing image was obtained; (B) Consists only of audio, (i) a disclaimer stating "This communication contains audio that has been manipulated" is read in a clearly spoken manner, in a pitch that can be easily heard by the average listener and in the same language as the deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) and any other language such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) should reasonably expect such listener to speak or understand, and which disclaimer is read at the beginning of such communication, at the end of such communication and, if such communication is greater than one minute in length, interspersed within such communication at not less frequently than thirty-second intervals, and (ii) in the case of any such audio that was generated by editing or manipulating existing audio, a citation directing such listener to the original source from which the unedited or unmanipulated version of such existing audio was obtained; or (C) Is a video, (i) a disclaimer stating "This communication contains video that has been manipulated" appears in text that is clearly visible to and easily readable by the average viewer, is not smaller than the largest font size of any other text appearing in such communication and is in the same language as the deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) and any other language such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) should reasonably expect such viewer to speak or understand, and which disclaimer appears for the duration of such communication, and (ii) in the case of any such video that was generated by editing or manipulating an existing video, a citation directing such viewer to the original source from which the unedited or unmanipulated version of such existing video was obtained;
(c)(2)(A) 2 Such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) is: (A) A radio station or television station, whether broadcast, cable or satellite and including, but not limited to, any producer or programmer or any certified competitive video service provider, community antenna television company, holder of a certificate of cable franchise authority or holder of a certificate of video franchise authority, as those terms are defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes, that (i) broadcasts such communication containing deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) as part of a bona fide newscast, news interview, news documentary or other on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events, (ii) (I) retains the disclaimer upon such communication required under subdivision (1) of this subsection, or (II) except in the case of any such on-the-spot coverage, adds such a disclaimer at the time of such broadcast if such communication did not previously include such a disclaimer, and (iii) except in the case of any such on-the-spot coverage for which such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) does not have reason to believe that such communication contains deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3), clearly states in the content of such broadcast that such communication contains deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3);
(c)(2)(B) 2 An Internet web site or regularly published newspaper, magazine or other periodical of general circulation, including, but not limited to, any regularly published periodical of general circulation that is published electronically or on the Internet, that (i) publishes such communication containing deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) as part of such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6)'s routine carriage of news and commentary of general interest, (ii) (I) retains the disclaimer upon such communication required under subdivision (1) of this subsection, or (II) adds such a disclaimer at the time of such publication if such communication did not previously include such a disclaimer, and (iii) clearly states in the content of such publication that such communication contains deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3).
Section 1(c) provides two safe harbors that permit distribution of deceptive synthetic media during the pre-election window. The first is a disclaimer safe harbor with format-specific requirements: image disclaimers must be clearly visible and at least as large as the largest font in the communication; audio disclaimers must be spoken clearly at the beginning, end, and at 30-second intervals for communications over one minute; and video disclaimers must appear for the full duration. All formats require a citation to the original source when the content was generated by manipulating existing media. The second safe harbor covers broadcast and news media — radio/TV stations and newspapers/periodicals — that distribute deceptive synthetic media as part of bona fide news coverage, provided they retain or add disclaimers and clearly identify the content as deceptive synthetic media.
(d)(1)–(2) Any personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor, except that: (A) If such violation was committed with the intent to cause violence or bodily harm, or to distribute deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) to an audience and such audience exceeds ten thousand individualsIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5), such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor; and (B) If such violation was committed less than five years after a prior conviction under this section, such personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) shall be guilty of a class D felony. (2) Any penalty imposed under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be in addition to any injunctive or other equitable relief or any general or special damages ordered under subsection (e) of this section.
Section 1(d) establishes a tiered criminal penalty structure. The baseline offense is a class C misdemeanor. The penalty escalates to a class A misdemeanor when the violation was committed with intent to cause violence or bodily harm, or when the audience exceeds 10,000 individuals. A class D felony applies to repeat offenders who commit a violation within five years of a prior conviction. Criminal penalties are expressly cumulative with civil remedies under subsection (e).
(e)(1)(A)–(B) The Attorney General, an individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5) described in subsection (b) of this section, or a candidateCandidate"Candidate" means any individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to public office whether or not such individual is elected;Section 1(a)(2) who has been or is likely to be injured by the distribution of a communication containing deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) in violation of the provisions of this section, may commence a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking to permanently enjoin any personPerson"Person" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes;Section 1(a)(6) whose violation of the provisions of this section is reasonably believed to be imminent, or who is in the course of violating the provisions of this section, and other equitable relief. (B) An individualIndividual"Individual" means a human being;Section 1(a)(5) described in subsection (b) of this section, or a candidateCandidate"Candidate" means any individual who seeks nomination for election, or election, to public office whether or not such individual is elected;Section 1(a)(2) who has been injured by the distribution of a communication containing deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) in violation of the provisions of this section, may commence a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking to recover general or special damages resulting from such distribution.
(e)(2) In any civil action commenced under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the plaintiff shall bear the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant distributed, or will imminently distribute, a communication containing deceptive synthetic mediaDeceptive synthetic media"Deceptive synthetic media" means any image, audio or video of an individual, and any representation of such individual's appearance, speech or conduct that is substantially derived from any such image, audio or video, which (A) a reasonable person would believe depicts the appearance, speech or conduct of such individual when such individual did not in fact appear as depicted or engage in such speech or conduct, and (B) was generated, in whole or in part, through the use of artificial intelligence or other means;Section 1(a)(3) in violation of the provisions of this section.
(e)(3) Any party, other than the Attorney General, who prevails in a civil action commenced under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs to be taxed by the court.
Section 1(e) creates both public and private civil enforcement paths. The Attorney General, the depicted individual, or an injured candidate may seek injunctive and equitable relief against imminent or ongoing violations. Depicted individuals and injured candidates may also sue for general or special damages. The evidentiary standard is elevated: plaintiffs must prove violations by clear and convincing evidence, which is higher than the preponderance standard typical in civil litigation. Prevailing parties other than the Attorney General are entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs.