HCSHBs2628&2603--ELECTRONICCOMMUNICATIONS
SPONSOR: Baker
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheSpecial
CommitteeonInnovationandTechnologybyavoteof8to0.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
2628.
Thisbillprohibitsanypersonorentityfrom,within90daysofan
election,distributingasyntheticmediamessageofanycandidate
orpartyforelectiveofficewhowillappearonastateorlocal
ballot.
Thisshallnotapplyifthesyntheticmediaincludesadisclaimer
statingthatithasbeenmanipulatedorgeneratedbyartificial
intelligence. Thenatureofthedisclaimerisspecifiedinthe
bill.
Thisshallalsonotapplytoabroadcasteriftheyacknowledge
throughcontentoradisclosurethattherearequestionsaboutthe
authenticityofthemedia,iftheyacknowledgethatapublication
doesnotaccuratelyrepresentthespeechorconductofthe
candidate,ifitispaidtobroadcastthedeepfake,ortomedia
thatconstitutessatireorparody.
Acandidatewhoisharmedbyaviolationofthissectionmayseek
injunctiveorotherequitablereliefprohibitingthepublicationof
thedeepfake. Penaltiesarespecifiedinthebill.
ThebillalsoaddsbusinesssubscriberstotheNo-CallListand
specifiesthatapersondoesnothavetorenewhisorherobjection
toreceivingsolicitations.
Thebillestablishesthe"CallerIDAnti-SpoofingAct"which
createstheoffenseofcalleridentification spoofing. Thefirst
offenseisaclassCmisdemeanorandanysubsequentoffensesarea
classAmisdemeanor. Exceptionstotheoffensearespecifiedin
thebill.
TherecipientofanycallinwhichthecallerusesfalsecallerID
informationhasstandingtorecoverpunitivedamagesagainstthe
callerinanamountupto$5,000percall.Callrecipientsmay
bringactionunderthissectionasaclass.TheAttorneyGeneral
mayinitiatelegalproceedingsorinterveneinlegalproceedingson
behalfofcallrecipients. Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthetoolstoproducedeepfakes
arebecomingmoreadvanced,makingithardforvoterstoknowthe
difference. Deepfakesareathreattofairelectionsandhave
beenusedinothercountriesacrosstheworldtoaffecttheoutcome
oftheelection.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Baker;
MissouriVoterProtectionCoalition;VanessaWellbery,AdvocatesOf
PlannedParenthoodoftheSt.LouisRegionandSouthwestMissouri;
andMarilynMcleod,LeagueOfWomenVotersOfMissouri.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythattherestrictionsin
thebillareanattackontheFirstAmendmentprotections.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwasArmorVine.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.