NYS lawmakers pass ban on AI-generated revenge porn in final week of legislative session
New York Legislature Approved Ban on AI-Generated Revenge Porn
The New York State Legislature has approved a bill that would make it illegal to distribute sexually explicit images or video created through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The legislation, proposed by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, would specifically target so-called ‘deepfakes’: videos that use AI to superimpose someone’s face onto another person’s body, often to create revenge porn. Violators could face up to a year in jail if the bill is signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The bill was passed by the Senate in late May and was approved by the Assembly on Tuesday. It is set to become law if Hochul, who has not yet commented on the legislation, signs it. The law would take effect 60 days after approval.
Paulin says she proposed the bill in February after reading about the dangers of people using artificial intelligence technology to generate increasingly realistic fake pornographic images. The vast majority of deepfake videos found online are non-consensual pornography, according to the MIT Technology Review.
FAQs
What is revenge porn?
Revenge porn refers to revealing pictures or videos that are released, usually online, without the consent of all people involved, whether or not they originally agreed to be photographed or recorded.
What is a deepfake?
A deepfake is a video that uses AI technology to superimpose someone’s face onto another person’s body.
What is AI-generated revenge porn?
AI-generated revenge porn involves the creation of deepfake videos that use AI technology to replace a person’s face with someone else’s, often to humiliate or blackmail them.
What is the punishment for distributing AI-generated revenge porn in New York?
Violators could face up to a year in jail if a new bill, recently approved by the New York State Legislature, is signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Ban on AI-Generated Revenge Porn Passed by NYS Lawmakers in Last Week of Legislative Session
Lawmakers in Albany have approved a new bill that will prohibit the use of AI-generated revenge porn. According to Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who sponsored the bill, adding someone’s face to the body of someone else for the purpose of public humiliation can have long-lasting effects on individuals. As technology makes it increasingly easy to create fictitious intimate images, the bill’s passing comes as a necessary update to the current law. If signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, violators could face up to a year in jail.
The bill was unanimously passed by the state Senate on May 22 and approved by Assembly Democrats on Tuesday, just days before the final day of the 2023 legislative session. Revenge porn is defined as the release of images or videos without the consent of all involved parties. The vast majority of deep fake videos available online are classified as non-consensual pornography, as reported by MIT Technology Review in 2021.
The proposed ban on AI-generated revenge porn was introduced by Paulin in February after reading about the growing dangers of deep fake videos online. The bill’s passing comes two years after ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a broader ban on the unlawful publication of intimate images. Hochul’s office has stated that she will review the legislation before deciding to sign or veto the bill. If approved, the bill will take effect 60 days after being passed.
State Sen. Michelle Hinchey (D-Kingston) did not provide comment on the matter.
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