Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Elections

RI Election Deepfake Law

Artificial intelligence · Marketing · Other

Bars campaigns, PACs and independent spenders from distributing, within 90 days of an election, AI-manipulated images, audio or video of a person that they know or should know are deceptive and fraudulent, unless the media carries a clear disclosure that it was manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence.

Where: Rhode Island
Citation: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 17-30-1 to 17-30-4
Status: In force
In force since: 2025-07-02
Enforced by: Courts via actions by depicted candidates
People can sue: Yes
Penalties: A depicted candidate may obtain injunctive or equitable relief against distribution and general or special damages against the creator, plus attorney's fees; violations must be proven by clear and convincing evidence (§ 17-30-2). No criminal penalty.
Applies to: Candidates, authorized campaign committees, political action committees, party committees, and persons or entities making independent expenditures
Excludes broadcasters and streaming services (unless acting as a PAC or independent spender), news publications that label the media, satire or parody, and interactive computer services under 47 U.S.C. § 230

What a privacy notice must say

Synthetic media may be distributed if it discloses that it was manipulated or generated by AI: for visuals, in text at least as large as the largest other text and for the full length of a video; for audio, spoken at the start and end and at least every two minutes in longer audio.R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-30-1(d)

Practices it requires

Within 90 days of an election with a candidate on the ballot, do not distribute synthetic media known or reasonably known to be deceptive and fraudulent.R.I. Gen. Laws § 17-30-1(c)

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Research reference, not legal advice.