Texas House Bill HB556

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/12/24

Caption

Relating to a criminal offense for the creation or distribution of certain artificially generated media with the intent to influence the outcome of an election.

Impact

The implementation of HB556 will modify the Election Code, making it illegal to create and disseminate deepfake media within a 30-day period leading up to an election, specifically if the intent is to injure a candidate or sway voter opinions. This addition to the Election Code represents a significant step in acknowledging the potential dangers of misinformation and media manipulation in the digital age. Notably, the bill clarifies the definition of 'artificially generated media,' which includes various forms of deceptive content such as images, audio, and video recordings crafted with AI technology.

Summary

House Bill 556 aims to address the growing concerns regarding the potential misuse of artificially generated media, specifically deepfake technology, in influencing election outcomes. The bill establishes a criminal offense for creating or distributing such media with the intent to deceive voters or harm candidates. This legislation reflects a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of elections in Texas, recognizing that advancements in generative artificial intelligence pose unique challenges to truthful political discourse.

Contention

There may be concerns around the enforcement of this law, particularly regarding the line between legitimate political commentary and potentially harmful misinformation. Critics might argue that such restrictions could be misused to suppress free speech or to target legitimate political discourse. Proponents of the bill assert that protecting the electoral process from deceptive practices is paramount, and the law includes measures to ensure it specifically targets malicious intent rather than deterring honest political expression.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Election Code

• Chapter 255. Regulating Political Advertising And Campaign Communications
  • Section: New Section