Lehigh Times

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie has expressed approval following the unanimous passage of a bill by the Pennsylvania General Assembly aimed at tackling AI-generated deepfake pornographic images. The legislation, Senate Bill 1213, now awaits the governor's decision to be signed into law.

Mackenzie played a significant role as the prime sponsor of a similar bill in the House of Representatives. He stated, “While the unauthorized dissemination of an intimate image is already against the law in Pennsylvania, it was unclear whether the sharing of an intimate AI-generated image of a non-consenting adult is prohibited. This legislation makes that important change in the law. It also prohibits the use of deepfake technology to create child pornography.”

The bill introduces new specifications to existing offenses concerning sexual abuse materials created using artificial intelligence or photo editing software. These offenses vary from summary offenses to first-degree felonies, with penalties reaching up to 20 years imprisonment and fines up to $25,000.

Mackenzie emphasized that this legislation represents "commonsense" measures designed to protect individuals from becoming victims of high-tech crimes that can cause significant harm.