Georgia is reportedly aiming to ban artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes, spearheaded by Todd Jones, the Republican state representative who also chairs the House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure Innovation.
Jones began his proposal to forbid the use of AI deepfakes in political communication by showing a deepfake video to the judiciary committee that featured Moore and Mallory Staples, a far-right activist who currently leads the Georgia Freedom Caucus. Staples is a former Republican congressional candidate.
The video mimics Moore and Mallory's voices using AI to falsely support the bill's passing. A constant disclaimer at the bottom of the video references the bill's text. Mallory and Moore are against the bill.
(Photo: ALEXANDRA ROBINSON/AFP via Getty Images) A research team has comprehensively analyzed deepfake content in the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The bill's Republican co-sponsor and co-author, Brad Thomas, said that he and his associates made the film using readily accessible resources. Thomas asserts that a $50 piece of software was used to construct the displayed Deepfake video.
According to Thomas, the speed at which visual AI generative tools develop is years ahead of the laws required to stop abuses. These AI-generated people appear real. On an 8-1 vote, the bill was approved out of committee.
Georgia's Previous Deepfake Ban Proposals
Georgia continues to tackle the rise of deepfakes in politics ahead of this year's elections. Last February, the Georgia state house reportedly approved legislation banning political deepfakes as well, with a vote of 148-22.
H.B. 986 would make it illegal to release a deepfake within ninety days of an election to deceive or confuse voters about a candidate or their prospects of winning.
The law would give the state election board the authority to publicize the results of investigations and give the attorney general jurisdiction for the offenses.
According to the law, the Georgia Legislature has discovered that artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies are being used and developed at a considerable and rapid rate, which presents a special risk to the state's elections.
The law also asserts that AI has made it possible for anyone operating in both good and bad faith to produce fraudulent content yet seemingly genuine.
AI Deepfakes Remain Debatable
The bill would not apply to satire or parody, and campaign ads that included AI-generated content would have to disclose such information.
According to the Journal-Constitution, State Representative Charlice Byrd was among the few legislators who rejected the bill. She claimed that it would weaken the foundation of freedom and restrict free speech.
Several states in the US have expressed concerns about deepfakes. Various crimes are being committed using AI, but without a clear law prohibiting deepfakes, AI crimes remain debatable in court.
(Photo: Tech Times)
