Thursday, the New Jersey legislature passed new legislation aimed at criminalizing the creation and distribution of deceptive AI-generated media, commonly known as deepfakes. The measure, sponsored by Assembly members Louis D. Greenwald, Ellen J. Park, and former Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr., is designed to address the risks associated with deepfake technology, which has been linked to fraud, scams, identity theft, and the manipulation of public opinion.

Deepfakes use artificial intelligence to create realistic but fabricated audio and visual content, often leading to the impersonation of individuals, financial fraud, and the spread of misinformation. The new law seeks to mitigate these abuses by imposing criminal penalties on those who create or distribute harmful deepfakes.

According to CBS News, a recent example in New Jersey involved students at Westfield High School, who used AI to create explicit deepfake images of their classmates, highlighting the dangers of this technology. 

If signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy, this legislation would establish criminal penalties for those who produce or spread such harmful media.

The measure passed the New Jersey Senate with a 37-0 vote and now awaits the governor’s approval to become law. This development raises important questions about the regulation of emerging technologies and the balance between ensuring public safety and protecting freedom of expression in the digital age.