,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #abac ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ca1 #bjbe,ms4 ,klobuchar 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,hawley1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,mr4 ,bennet7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration ,a ,,bill ,to prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media relating to candidates for ,federal office1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protect ,elections from ,deceptive ,,ai ,act4 #b4 ,prohibition on distribution of materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media prior to election 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iii of the ,federal ,election ,campaign ,act of #aiga 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #cbe4 ,prohibition on distribution of materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered individual ,the term covered individual means a candidate for ,federal office4 7#b7 ,deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media ,the term deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media means an image1 audio1 or video that-- 7,a7 is the product of artificial intelligence technology that uses machine learning 7including deep learning models1 natural learning processing1 or any other computational processing techniques of similar or greater complexity71 that-- 7i7 merges1 combines1 replaces1 or superimposes content onto an image1 audio1 or video1 creating an image1 audio1 or video that appears authentic2 or 7ii7 generates an inauthentic image1 audio1 or video that appears authentic2 and 7,b7 a reasonable person1 having considered the qualities of the image1 audio1 or video and the nature of the distribution channel in which the image1 audio1 or video appears-- 7i7 would have a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance1 speech1 or expressive conduct exhibited in the image1 audio1 or video than that person would have if that person were hearing or seeing the unaltered1 original version of the image1 audio1 or video2 or 7ii7 would believe that the image1 audio1 or video accurately exhibits any appearance1 speech1 or expressive conduct of a person who did not actually exhibit such appearance1 speech1 or expressive conduct4 7#c7 ,federal election activity ,the term ,federal election activity has the meaning given the term in section #cja7bj77;,a77iii74 7b7 ,prohibition ,except as provided in subsection 7c71 a person1 political committee1 or other entity may not knowingly distribute materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media in carrying out a ,federal election activity or of a covered individual for the purpose of-- 7#a7 influencing an election2 or 7#b7 soliciting funds4 7c7 ,inapplicability to certain entities ,this section shall not apply to the following3 7#a7 ,a radio or television broadcasting station1 including a cable or satellite television operator1 programmer1 or producer1 or a streaming service that broadcasts materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media prohibited by this section as part of a bona fide newscast1 news interview1 news documentary1 or on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events1 if the broadcast clearly acknowledges through content or a disclosure1 in a manner that can be easily heard or read by the average listener or viewer1 that there are questions about the authenticity of the materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media4 7#b7 ,a regularly published newspaper1 magazine1 or other periodical of general circulation1 including an internet or electronic publication1 that routinely carries news and commentary of general interest1 and that publishes materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media prohibited under this section1 if the publication clearly states that the materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media does not accurately represent the speech or conduct of the covered individual4 7#c7 ,materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media that constitutes satire or parody4 7d7 ,civil action 7#a7 ,injunctive or other equitable relief 7,a7 ,in general ,a covered individual whose voice or likeness appears in1 or who is the subject of1 a materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media1 including content distributed as part of a ,federal election activity1 distributed in violation of this section may seek injunctive or other equitable relief prohibiting the distribution of materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media in violation of this section4 7,b7 ,precedence ,an action under this paragraph shall be entitled to precedence in accordance with the ,federal ,rules of ,civil ,procedure4 7#b7 ,damages 7,a7 ,in general ,a covered individual whose voice or likeness appears in1 or who is the subject of1 a materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media1 including content distributed as part of a ,federal election activity1 distributed in violation of this section may bring an action for general or special damages against the person1 committee1 or other entity that distributed the materially deceptive ,,ai-generated audio or visual media4 7,b7 ,attorney's fees and costs ,in addition to any damages awarded under subparagraph 7,a71 the court may also award a prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs4 7,c7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit or preclude a plaintiff from securing or recovering any other available remedy4 7#c7 ,burden of proof ,in any civil action alleging a violation of this section1 the plaintiff shall bear the burden of establishing the violation through clear and convincing evidence4 4 7b7 ,severability ,if any provision of this ,act1 or an amendment made by this ,act1 or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance1 is held to be invalid1 the remainder of this ,act1 or an amendment made by this ,act1 or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances1 shall not be affected4