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 A person is guilty of unlawful dissemination of an intimate synthetically created imageSynthetically created image"Synthetically created image" means any photograph, film, videotape or other image of a person that (A) is (i) not wholly recorded by a camera, or (ii) either partially or wholly generated by a computer system, and (B) depicts, and is virtually indistinguishable from what a reasonable person would believe is the actual depiction of, an identifiable person.Section 1(b)(3) when (1) such person intentionally disseminatesDisseminate"Disseminate" means to sell, give, provide, lend, trade, mail, deliver, transfer, publish, distribute, circulate, present, exhibit, advertise or otherwise offer;Section 1(b)(1) by electronic or other means such image of (A) the genitals, pubic area or buttocks of another person with less than a fully opaque covering of such body part, or the breast of such other person who is female with less than a fully opaque covering of any portion of such breast below the top of the nipple, or (B) another person engaged in sexual intercourse, as defined in section 53a-193 of the general statutes, (2) such person disseminatesDisseminate"Disseminate" means to sell, give, provide, lend, trade, mail, deliver, transfer, publish, distribute, circulate, present, exhibit, advertise or otherwise offer;Section 1(b)(1) such image without the consent of such other person, (3) knowing such image is a synthetically created imageSynthetically created image"Synthetically created image" means any photograph, film, videotape or other image of a person that (A) is (i) not wholly recorded by a camera, or (ii) either partially or wholly generated by a computer system, and (B) depicts, and is virtually indistinguishable from what a reasonable person would believe is the actual depiction of, an identifiable person.Section 1(b)(3), disseminatesDisseminate"Disseminate" means to sell, give, provide, lend, trade, mail, deliver, transfer, publish, distribute, circulate, present, exhibit, advertise or otherwise offer;Section 1(b)(1) the image intending for another person who views such image to be deceived into believing the image is an actual depiction of such other person, and (4) such other person suffers harmHarm"Harm" includes, but is not limited to, subjecting such other person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, physical injury, financial injury, psychological harm or serious emotional distress;Section 1(b)(2) as a result of such dissemination, or (5) such person violates subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection, and such person acquired, created or had created such synthetically created imageSynthetically created image"Synthetically created image" means any photograph, film, videotape or other image of a person that (A) is (i) not wholly recorded by a camera, or (ii) either partially or wholly generated by a computer system, and (B) depicts, and is virtually indistinguishable from what a reasonable person would believe is the actual depiction of, an identifiable person.Section 1(b)(3) with intention to harmHarm"Harm" includes, but is not limited to, subjecting such other person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, physical injury, financial injury, psychological harm or serious emotional distress;Section 1(b)(2) such other person.
(b) For purposes of this section: (1) "DisseminateDisseminate"Disseminate" means to sell, give, provide, lend, trade, mail, deliver, transfer, publish, distribute, circulate, present, exhibit, advertise or otherwise offer;Section 1(b)(1)" means to sell, give, provide, lend, trade, mail, deliver, transfer, publish, distribute, circulate, present, exhibit, advertise or otherwise offer; (2) "HarmHarm"Harm" includes, but is not limited to, subjecting such other person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, physical injury, financial injury, psychological harm or serious emotional distress;Section 1(b)(2)" includes, but is not limited to, subjecting such other person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, physical injury, financial injury, psychological harmHarm"Harm" includes, but is not limited to, subjecting such other person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, physical injury, financial injury, psychological harm or serious emotional distress;Section 1(b)(2) or serious emotional distress; and (3) "Synthetically created imageSynthetically created image"Synthetically created image" means any photograph, film, videotape or other image of a person that (A) is (i) not wholly recorded by a camera, or (ii) either partially or wholly generated by a computer system, and (B) depicts, and is virtually indistinguishable from what a reasonable person would believe is the actual depiction of, an identifiable person.Section 1(b)(3)" means any photograph, film, videotape or other image of a person that (A) is (i) not wholly recorded by a camera, or (ii) either partially or wholly generated by a computer system, and (B) depicts, and is virtually indistinguishable from what a reasonable person would believe is the actual depiction of, an identifiable person.
(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to: (1) Any image described in subsection (a) of this section of such other person if such image resulted from voluntary exposure or engagement in sexual intercourse by such other person, in a public place, as defined in section 53a-181 of the general statutes, or in a commercial setting; or (2) Any image described in subsection (a) of this section of such other person, if such other person is not clearly identifiable, unless other personally identifying information is associated with or accompanies the image.
(d) Unlawful dissemination of an intimate synthetically created imageSynthetically created image"Synthetically created image" means any photograph, film, videotape or other image of a person that (A) is (i) not wholly recorded by a camera, or (ii) either partially or wholly generated by a computer system, and (B) depicts, and is virtually indistinguishable from what a reasonable person would believe is the actual depiction of, an identifiable person.Section 1(b)(3) to (1) a person by any means is a class D misdemeanor, except that if such person violated subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of this section, a class A misdemeanor, and (2) more than one person by means of an interactive computer service, as defined in 47 USC 230, an information service, as defined in 47 USC 153, or a telecommunications service, as defined in section 16-247a of the general statutes, is a class C misdemeanor, except that if such person violated subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of this section, a class D felony.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose liability on the provider of an interactive computer service, as defined in 47 USC 230, an information service, as defined in 47 USC 153, or a telecommunications service, as defined in section 16-247a of the general statutes, for content provided by another person.
Section 1 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly disseminating synthetically created intimate images without the depicted person's consent, where the disseminator intends to deceive viewers into believing the image is real. The offense has two tracks: one requiring proof of actual harm to the depicted person, and a heightened track where the disseminator acquired or created the image with the intent to harm the depicted person. Penalties escalate based on both the number of recipients and whether the intent-to-harm element is present, ranging from a class D misdemeanor up to a class D felony.
The bill defines synthetically created image broadly to include any image not wholly recorded by a camera or partially or wholly generated by a computer system, provided the image is virtually indistinguishable from an actual depiction of an identifiable person. Exceptions protect images resulting from voluntary public exposure and images where the depicted person is not clearly identifiable absent accompanying identifying information. Subsection (e) is a savings clause preserving Section 230 platform immunity.