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.
(b)(1)(a)(2) 1 A political party or political candidate and the call satisfies the requirements of G.S. 163-278.18A.
Section 1 amends the existing robocall statute to condition the exemption for political parties and political candidates on compliance with the new AI disclaimer requirements in G.S. 163-278.18A. Previously, political parties and candidates could use automatic dialing and recorded message players without additional constraints beyond general caller-identification requirements. Under the amendment, the call must also satisfy the disclaimer requirements of the new section if AI is used.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1). – The capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1). (2) Political advertisementPolitical advertisementAn advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(2). – An advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.
(b) 2 If a political advertisementPolitical advertisementAn advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(2) is created in whole or in part by using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1), the political advertisementPolitical advertisementAn advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(2) shall comply with the disclosure requirements under G.S. 163-278.39 and the requirements of this section. The disclaimer shall bear in its legend or include the statement: "This advertisement was created using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1)."
(c) 3 When a political advertisementPolitical advertisementAn advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(2) using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1) is transmitted by a social media platform, the disclosure statement shall comply with the size requirements provided in G.S. 163-278.39(b). When a political advertisementPolitical advertisementAn advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(2) using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1) is transmitted through automated calling, the disclosure statement shall last at least two seconds, provided the statement is spoken so that its contents may be easily understood.
(d) 4 Any candidate, candidate campaign committee, political party organization, political action committee, referendum committee, individual, or other sponsor using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1) in a political advertisementPolitical advertisementAn advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(2) that fails to include the disclaimer required by this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
This section creates the bill's core obligation: any political advertisement created in whole or in part using artificial intelligence must include a specified disclaimer stating that the advertisement was created using AI. The disclaimer must comply with existing North Carolina political ad disclosure requirements under G.S. 163-278.39, and the section adds medium-specific formatting rules — size requirements for social media and a two-second spoken minimum for automated calls.
Subsection (d) establishes criminal enforcement: any candidate, campaign committee, political party organization, PAC, referendum committee, individual, or other sponsor who uses AI in a political advertisement and fails to include the required disclaimer is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The breadth of covered actors is notable — the provision reaches beyond formal campaign entities to any individual or sponsor.
This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to political advertisementsPolitical advertisementAn advertisement as defined under G.S. 163-278.38Z(1), including communications sent by email, text, automated calling, or appearing on a website or social media platforms.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(2) using artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceThe capability of computer systems or algorithms to imitate intelligent human behavior. The term includes generative artificial intelligence.G.S. § 163-278.18A(a)(1) on or after that date.
The act takes effect upon becoming law and applies to political advertisements using artificial intelligence on or after that date. There is no delayed implementation period.