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Bill

SB 228

Relating to prohibiting the use of certain political advertising manipulated by generative artificial intelligence technology; creating a criminal offense.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Royce West

Texas bill criminalizes political advertisements using manipulated generative AI to deceive voters while raising enforcement and free speech concerns.

Referred to State Affairs
#advertising(s2680) #artificialintelligence(iq7c5) #elections--campaignfinancing(i0290) #elections--candidates(i0280) #elections--general(i0310) #electronicinformationsystems(i0311)
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Bill Summary · SB 228

Legislative bill overview

SB 228 would prohibit the use of manipulated political advertisements created with generative AI and establish criminal penalties for violations. The bill targets deepfakes and synthetic media in political campaigns, requiring disclosure or outright banning of AI-generated content used to misrepresent candidates or influence elections.

Why is this important

Deepfake technology can convincingly fabricate videos, audio, and images of political figures saying or doing things they never did, potentially swaying elections and eroding public trust in media. As generative AI becomes more accessible, such manipulated content poses a growing threat to electoral integrity. Clear legal restrictions help protect voters from deliberate deception while raising important questions about enforcement and free speech boundaries.

Potential points of contention

  • Defining "manipulated" content: Determining what constitutes prohibited AI manipulation versus legitimate political editing, satire, or commentary could be legally ambiguous and subject to challenge.
  • First Amendment concerns: Critics may argue that blanket prohibitions on AI-generated political speech could conflict with free speech protections, particularly around parody or artistic expression.
  • Enforcement challenges: Proving a video or image was created with generative AI and determining intent requires technical expertise; establishing criminal liability may be difficult in practice and create uneven application.

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

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