COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an effort to address the growing threat of deepfake technology, Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at creating the offense of nonconsensual distribution of a deepfake.
H.B. 401, sponsored by members of both parties, seeks to enact section 2913.321 of the Revised Code, establishing legal measures to combat the dissemination of falsified digital content without the consent of the individuals depicted.
The proposed legislation defines a “deepfake” as an image or recording that has been convincingly altered and manipulated to misrepresent a person as performing an action or making a statement they did not actually perform or make.
Under the provisions outlined in the bill:
- Individuals are prohibited from creating, distributing, or soliciting the creation of a deepfake with the intent to harass, extort, threaten, or cause harm to the depicted individual, without their consent.
- Violators of this section would face penalties, with a first offense classified as a misdemeanor of the first degree and subsequent offenses as felonies of the fifth degree.
Lawmakers emphasize the importance of safeguarding individuals from the potentially devastating consequences of nonconsensual distribution of deepfakes, which can lead to significant physical, emotional, reputational, and economic harm.
The introduction of H.B. 401 reflects bipartisan recognition of the urgent need to address emerging threats posed by advancements in digital manipulation technology. Supporters of the bill hope that its passage will serve as a crucial step in protecting individuals’ privacy and integrity in an increasingly digital world.