HB208 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve HurstRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Merika ColemanJeremy OdenElwyn ThomasElaine Beech

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Political campaigns, use of digitally altered pictures in negative way, prohibited, Sec. 17-5-16 am'd.

Summary

HB208 would prohibit the use of digitally altered pictures in political campaigns and extend anti-misrepresentation rules to cover misleading images.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 17-5-16 to ban using or publishing digitally altered pictures that depict someone in a misleading or negative way in political contexts. It expands the prohibition to cover any individual depicted in such images, whether or not they are a candidate, and applies to people acting for or on behalf of candidates, campaign committees, PACs, or political parties. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Candidates, principal campaign committees, political action committees, political parties, and their agents or employees, who would be barred from fraudulent misrepresentation and from using digitally altered images to damage others.
• Any person who creates, shares, or publishes a digitally altered picture of an individual in a misleading or negative manner, including non-candidates.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 17-5-16 to prohibit digitally altered pictures used to mislead or damage in a political context.
• Expands the misrepresentation prohibition to include actions by anyone affiliated with a candidate or campaign.
• Specifies that using or publishing digitally altered images depicting an individual in a misleading or negative way is unlawful.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after the bill is passed and approved by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections