AI Frontier Institute

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2, Chapter 19, relative to the Transparency for Deepfakes in Political Advertising Act.

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Tennessee Public Chapter No. 625 (House Bill 1513, substituted for Senate Bill 1624) is law. Section 1 names it the "Transparency for Deepfakes in Political Advertising Act." Section 2 adds a new subdivision (a)(6) to Tennessee Code Annotated § 2-19-120. Audio communications that are deepfakes (as defined in § 39-17-1902) and impersonate a candidate saying things they did not say must clearly state at the beginning and end: "This communication contains fake content impersonating speech that did not occur." Video deepfakes depicting a candidate in action or speech that did not happen must display, in large letters for the whole video, a disclaimer. The disclaimer is "fake content depicting actions that did not occur" for video only, or "fake content depicting actions and speech that did not occur" for audio and video (subdivision (a)(6)(B)). If the depicted candidate is not an incumbent, the requirements apply only within 120 days of the start of voting in an election where the candidate is on the ballot ((a)(6)(C)). Hosts, third-party producers, internet service providers, search engines and cloud providers are not liable solely for providing access or connection, to the extent they did not create the deepfake. Broadcasters, cable or satellite operators and streaming services paid to carry such material are also excluded, to the same extent ((a)(6)(D)). A candidate who is the subject of a covered deepfake may get damages and equitable relief under § 39-17-1904, except § 39-17-1904(c) ((a)(6)(E)). Section 3 makes the act effective July 1, 2026.

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