Dauphin News

On May 21, 2024, a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania senators introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to fraudulently misrepresent election candidates. The bill, Senate Bill 1217, seeks to prevent the dissemination of campaign advertisements containing artificially generated impersonations of candidates without their consent and with the intent to unduly influence election outcomes.

Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), who chairs the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, emphasized the potential dangers posed by GenAI technology. “While this technology has the potential to make content creation more efficient, it also has the power to spread disinformation at an unprecedented rate through deceptively realistic content,” Pennycuick stated. “It’s critical that we take steps to prevent such blatant election interference and allow voters to make informed decisions when casting ballots.”

Sen. Jimmy Dillon (D-5) echoed these concerns, highlighting the risks associated with advancing AI technology. “As AI technology advances, the potential for misuse to spread disinformation could seriously undermine the political process,” Dillon said. “Our bill aims to deter AI-generated impersonations in political ads, ensuring voters receive accurate information.”

Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) underscored the need for vigilance as technology evolves. “As technology advances, we must remain vigilant to safeguard the integrity of our elections as Artificial Intelligence evolves and continues to blur the line between what is reality and what is not,” he remarked.

Sen. John Kane (D-9) focused on maintaining truthfulness in elections. “This is about truth in our elections,” Kane asserted. “We are introducing this legislation to safeguard the accuracy of information and protect our voters from the influence of fabricated content. Every vote should be based on truth, not deepfakes and AI-generated deception.”

In parallel efforts within Pennsylvania's House of Representatives, Rep. Tarik Khan (D-194) has introduced similar legislation targeting AI-generated misinformation in political campaigns.

“People hate negative, misleading ads – but at least those ads were actual pictures and video of opponents," Khan commented on his initiative. "The negative ads of the future will be fully manufactured with only one goal: deception... We can’t wait... This is how we safeguard our democracy and restore people’s trust.”

At a federal level, while there is consideration by the Federal Election Commission regarding limiting false AI-generated political content, regulatory action remains uncertain.

The introduction of this bill aligns Pennsylvania with at least 14 other states that have adopted resolutions or enacted laws related to artificial intelligence.

For further inquiries:

Lidia DiFiore

(215) 541-2388