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Bill

HB 1205

Prohibiting the knowing distribution of a forged digital likeness.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Callan and 5 co-sponsors

Washington bans knowing distribution of deepfakes and forged digital likenesses, creating criminal penalties to protect individuals from non-consensual synthetic media effective July 2025.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1205

Legislative bill overview

HB 1205 makes it illegal in Washington to knowingly distribute a forged digital likeness—such as deepfakes or AI-generated images depicting someone without consent. The law creates a new criminal offense with potential penalties, likely including fines and possible jail time, effective July 27, 2025.

Why is this important

Deepfake technology has enabled rapid creation of non-consensual intimate images and defamatory content that can cause serious reputational, emotional, and financial harm. This law addresses a genuine gap in consumer protection by establishing legal recourse for victims and creating deterrents for bad actors in an emerging technology space.

Potential points of contention

  • Free speech concerns: Critics may argue the law could chill protected speech, parody, or commentary depending on how "forged" and "knowing" are interpreted in enforcement
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's language around what constitutes a "digital likeness" and what level of similarity triggers the law remains subject to interpretation and potential legal challenges
  • Enforcement challenges: Proving intent to deceive and identifying perpetrators in online contexts presents practical difficulties, potentially limiting the law's real-world effectiveness

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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