HB172 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Prince ChestnutRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Crimes & offenses, provides criminal & civil penalties for distribution of materially deceptive media intended to influence an election

Summary

HB172 makes distributing AI-generated or materially deceptive media intended to influence an upcoming election a crime and allows permanent injunctions to stop it.

What This Bill Does

It defines key terms related to deceptive election media, including artificial intelligence and the creator of such media. It makes distributing materially deceptive media within 90 days of an election, intended to harm a candidate or alter voting patterns, a crime. It allows the Attorney General, depicted individuals, or harmed candidates and voter groups to seek permanent injunctions, with penalties that start as a Class A misdemeanor and can become a Class D felony for repeat offenses. It provides disclaimers and exemptions (e.g., satire, bona fide news coverage) and sets an effective date of October 1, 2024; it’s exempt from certain local-fund requirements because the bill creates or changes a crime.

Who It Affects

• Creators, sponsors, or purchasers of political advertising/media produced or disseminated with artificial intelligence, who could be charged if the material is deceptive and aimed at influencing an election.
• Distributors and platforms (e.g., internet websites, newspapers, streaming services, radio/TV stations) that would regulate or be restricted by the bill and may need to include disclaimers or face injunctions.
• Candidates, individuals depicted in deceptive media, voters, and groups representing voters, who could be harmed and may seek or be protected by permanent injunctions.
• The Attorney General and other plaintiffs representing harmed voters, who can pursue permanent injunctions and may recover costs or fees.

Key Provisions

• Defines Artificial Intelligence, Creator, Depicted Individual, Election, Materially Deceptive Media, and Sponsor.
• Prohibits distribution of materially deceptive media within 90 days before an election if it falsely depicts a person and is intended to harm their prospects or change voting patterns.
• Allows permanent injunctive relief by the Attorney General, a depicted individual, a candidate injured or likely to be injured, or a voters’ interests group; requires clear and convincing evidence that the creator knew the media was false; provides procedures related to frivolous claims and potential costs.
• Imposes penalties: Class A misdemeanor for violation, with second or subsequent offenses within five years as Class D felony; requires disclaimers in certain cases (video, audio, image) and prohibits removing those disclaimers.
• Provides specific exceptions and defenses (satire/parody, bona fide news coverage in certain formats); outlines conditions under which the act does not apply to certain distributors.
• Requires disclosures and citations if media is edited from existing content; sets effective date at October 1, 2024 and notes the bill is exempt from local-funds requirements under Section 111.05 because it creates a new crime or changes a crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses