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.
(1)(a) "Person who is responsiblePerson who is responsible"Person who is responsible" means the person who pays for the publication or creation of published material. "Person who is responsible" does not mean a media or technology organization publishing, broadcasting, distributing, or hosting published material on behalf of another person.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(a)" means the person who pays for the publication or creation of published material. "Person who is responsiblePerson who is responsible"Person who is responsible" means the person who pays for the publication or creation of published material. "Person who is responsible" does not mean a media or technology organization publishing, broadcasting, distributing, or hosting published material on behalf of another person.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(a)" does not mean a media or technology organization publishing, broadcasting, distributing, or hosting published material on behalf of another person.
(1)(b)(1)–(2) "Synthetic mediaSynthetic media"Synthetic media" means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any form of digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording that produces any of the following: (a) A depiction of an individual in appearance, speech, or conduct that a reasonable individual would believe depicts a real individual. (b) A materially different understanding or impression than a reasonable individual would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording. "Synthetic media" does not include content created using digital technology solely for text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, or enhancing existing content without creating a new impersonation of a human likeness or voice.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(b)" means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any form of digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording that produces any of the following: (a) A depiction of an individual in appearance, speech, or conduct that a reasonable individual would believe depicts a real individual. (b) A materially different understanding or impression than a reasonable individual would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording. (2) "Synthetic mediaSynthetic media"Synthetic media" means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any form of digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording that produces any of the following: (a) A depiction of an individual in appearance, speech, or conduct that a reasonable individual would believe depicts a real individual. (b) A materially different understanding or impression than a reasonable individual would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording. "Synthetic media" does not include content created using digital technology solely for text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, or enhancing existing content without creating a new impersonation of a human likeness or voice.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(b)" does not include content created using digital technology solely for text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, or enhancing existing content without creating a new impersonation of a human likeness or voice.
(2) 1 Published material, as defined in section 68A.405, that contains synthetic mediaSynthetic media"Synthetic media" means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any form of digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording that produces any of the following: (a) A depiction of an individual in appearance, speech, or conduct that a reasonable individual would believe depicts a real individual. (b) A materially different understanding or impression than a reasonable individual would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording. "Synthetic media" does not include content created using digital technology solely for text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, or enhancing existing content without creating a new impersonation of a human likeness or voice.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(b) must prominently include the words "THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIASynthetic media"Synthetic media" means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any form of digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording that produces any of the following: (a) A depiction of an individual in appearance, speech, or conduct that a reasonable individual would believe depicts a real individual. (b) A materially different understanding or impression than a reasonable individual would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording. "Synthetic media" does not include content created using digital technology solely for text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, or enhancing existing content without creating a new impersonation of a human likeness or voice.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(b)". The person who is responsiblePerson who is responsible"Person who is responsible" means the person who pays for the publication or creation of published material. "Person who is responsible" does not mean a media or technology organization publishing, broadcasting, distributing, or hosting published material on behalf of another person.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(a) for the published material has the sole responsibility and liability for inclusion of the disclosure required by this subsection.
(3) The inclusion of the disclosure required by this section does not preclude a person from pursuing any other remedies under law for the publication of synthetic mediaSynthetic media"Synthetic media" means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any form of digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording that produces any of the following: (a) A depiction of an individual in appearance, speech, or conduct that a reasonable individual would believe depicts a real individual. (b) A materially different understanding or impression than a reasonable individual would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording. "Synthetic media" does not include content created using digital technology solely for text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, or enhancing existing content without creating a new impersonation of a human likeness or voice.Iowa Code § 68A.407(1)(b).
(4) 2 The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this section.
This new section establishes Iowa's first requirement for disclosure of synthetic media in campaign materials. The core obligation is straightforward: any published material (as defined in existing § 68A.405, covering campaign communications) that contains synthetic media must carry a prominent verbatim label. Liability falls exclusively on the person who pays for the material — media and technology intermediaries are expressly carved out.
The definition of synthetic media is notable for its reasonable-person standard: it covers digitally manipulated images, audio, or video that either realistically depict an individual or create a materially different impression from the original. A broad exclusion protects routine digital content tools — text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, and enhancement that does not impersonate — from triggering the disclosure requirement. A savings clause preserves all other legal remedies, and the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board is directed to adopt implementing rules under chapter 17A.