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)(2)(A) 1 using synthetic mediaSynthetic media"synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(2); K.S.A. 25-4156(e) in any election campaign communication through any medium to alter the appearance, action or speech of a candidate;
(a)(2)(B) 2 using synthetic mediaSynthetic media"synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(2); K.S.A. 25-4156(e) in any communication through any medium to alter the appearance, action or speech of an elected or appointed state official.
(b) Corrupt political advertising is a class C misdemeanor.
(c)–(c)(2) 3 It is an affirmative defense that the communication containing synthetic mediaSynthetic media"synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(2); K.S.A. 25-4156(e) includes a disclosure stating: "This (image/video/audio) has been manipulated." Such disclosure shall be expressed as follows: (1) For visual media, the text of the disclosure shall appear in a font size that is easily readable by the average viewer and not smaller than the largest font size of other text appearing in the visual media. If the visual media does not include any other text, the disclosure shall appear in a font size that is easily readable by the average viewer. For visual media that is a video, the disclosure shall appear for the duration of the video; or (2) if the media consists of audio only, the disclosure shall be read in a clearly spoken manner and in a pitch that can be easily heard by the average listener and stated at the beginning of the audio, at the end of the audio and, if the audio is longer than two minutes, interspersed within the audio at intervals of not more than two minutes each.
(d) The responsibility for including the disclosures required in qualifying advertisements and communications, as well as all liability for any failure to do so, shall rest solely with the advertiser and not with any broadcaster or other media platform or carrier disseminating the advertisement or communication.
(e)(1)–(2) For the purposes of this section, the term: (1) "Expressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of a candidateExpressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate"Expressly advocate the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in K.S.A. 25-4143, and amendments thereto.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(1)" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in K.S.A. 25-4143, and amendments thereto; and (2) "synthetic mediaSynthetic media"synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(2); K.S.A. 25-4156(e)" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.
Section 1 amends K.S.A. 25-2407 to expand the definition of corrupt political advertising. While subsection (a)(1) reorganizes and preserves the existing sponsorship-disclosure requirements for paid political communications across various media (print, broadcast, brochures), the new subsection (a)(2) adds two AI-specific prohibitions: using synthetic media in any election campaign communication to alter a candidate's appearance, action, or speech, and using synthetic media in any communication to alter the appearance, action, or speech of an elected or appointed state official.
The bill provides an affirmative defense in subsection (c) for communications that include a prescribed disclosure — "This (image/video/audio) has been manipulated" — with detailed formatting requirements for visual and audio media. Subsection (d) places all disclosure responsibility and liability on the advertiser, expressly shielding broadcasters and media platforms from liability. The offense remains a class C misdemeanor.
(b)(1)(F) 4 using synthetic mediaSynthetic media"synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(2); K.S.A. 25-4156(e) in any election campaign communication through any medium to alter the appearance, action or speech of a candidate.
(b)(3) Corrupt political advertising of a state or local office is a class C misdemeanor.
(c)–(c)(2) 5 It is an affirmative defense that the election campaign communication containing synthetic mediaSynthetic media"synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(2); K.S.A. 25-4156(e) includes a disclosure stating: "This (image/video/audio) has been manipulated." Such disclosure shall be expressed as follows: (1) For visual media, the text of the disclosure shall appear in a font size that is easily readable by the average viewer and not smaller than the largest font size of other text appearing in the visual media. If the visual media does not include any other text, the disclosure shall appear in a font size that is easily readable by the average viewer. For visual media that is a video, the disclosure shall appear for the duration of the video; or (2) if the media consists of audio only, the disclosure shall be read in a clearly spoken manner and in a pitch that can be easily heard by the average listener and stated at the beginning of the audio, at the end of the audio and, if the audio is longer than two minutes, interspersed within the audio at intervals of not more than two minutes each.
(d) The responsibility for including the disclosures required in qualifying advertisements and communications, as well as all liability for any failure to do so, shall rest solely with the advertiser and not with any broadcaster or other media platform or carrier disseminating the advertisement or communication.
(e) For purposes of this section, the term "synthetic mediaSynthetic media"synthetic media" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (A) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (B) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.K.S.A. 25-2407(e)(2); K.S.A. 25-4156(e)" means an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual's appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative artificial intelligence techniques or other digital technology in a manner that creates a realistic but false or inaccurate image, audio or video that produces: (1) A depiction, that to a reasonable individual, is of a real individual in appearance, action or speech but that did not actually occur in reality; and (2) a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action or speech than a reasonable person would otherwise have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording or video recording.
(f) If any provision of this section or application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section that can be given effect without the invalid application or provision, and to this end the provisions of this section are declared to be severable.
Section 2 amends K.S.A. 25-4156 to add synthetic media prohibitions specifically for state and local office election campaigns. While subsections (b)(1)(A) through (E) preserve and reorganize existing sponsorship-disclosure requirements, the new subsection (b)(1)(F) makes it corrupt political advertising to use synthetic media in any election campaign communication to alter the appearance, action, or speech of a candidate for state or local office.
The affirmative defense in subsection (c) mirrors Section 1: an advertiser avoids liability by including a prescribed manipulation disclosure with the same formatting requirements for visual and audio media. Subsection (d) again shields broadcasters and platforms from liability. Subsection (e) provides the same definition of synthetic media. The offense is a class C misdemeanor.