US Congress House Bill 6088 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: Introduced on March 4 2020 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-03-04 - Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Pending: House Administration Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Prohibits the distribution of certain deceptive audio or visual media (i.e., deepfakes) within 60 days of a federal election and establishes criminal penalties for related violations. The bill generally prohibits individuals, political committees, and other entities from distributing with actual malice any materially deceptive audio or visual media of a candidate within 60 days of a federal election with the intent to (1) injure the candidate's reputation, or (2) deceive a voter into voting for or against the candidate. Such prohibition does not apply to (1) audio or visual media containing certain disclosures (e.g., verbal or written statements); or (2) certain entities, such as radio or television broadcasting stations that broadcast such media with disclosures as part of a bona fide newscast. Additionally, the bill establishes a new criminal offense related to the distribution of materially deceptive audio or visual media prior to a federal election. A violator is subject to a fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both. It also permits a candidate whose voice or likeness appears in such deceptive audio or visual media to bring a civil action for damages.

Deepfakes in Federal Elections Prohibition Act

Rep. Stephen Lynch [D-MA]

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier [D-CA]

Sen. Peter Welch [D-VT]

Rep. Jim Cooper [D-TN]

Date	Chamber	Action
2020-03-04	House	Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
2020-03-04	House	Introduced in House

HB4617 (Related) 2019-10-28 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6088/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6088/BILLS-116hr6088ih.pdf