What It Does
Kansas SB 525, the Protection Against Deep Fakes Act, creates a civil cause of action for individuals whose likeness has been used without consent in AI-generated deepfake images, specifically when those images are used in obscene material. The law allows victims to sue for damages arising from the unauthorized use of generative artificial intelligence to create images or likenesses depicting them in sexually explicit content. SB 525 fills a gap in Kansas law by providing a dedicated civil remedy for deepfake victimization, rather than requiring victims to rely on general tort claims that were not designed for synthetic media.
Who It Applies To
SB 525 applies to any person or entity that uses generative AI to create an image or likeness of another person without their consent for use in obscene material. This includes individual creators, AI platform operators, content distribution platforms, and any intermediary that knowingly facilitates the creation or distribution of such material. The law is not limited to commercial actors — individuals who create nonconsensual deepfakes for personal distribution are also covered. Companies operating AI image generation tools accessible to Kansas users should assess their content moderation policies against this law.
Key Provisions
- Civil cause of action: Victims can sue for actual damages, statutory damages, and injunctive relief when their likeness is used in AI-generated obscene material without consent.
- Consent requirement: The law requires explicit consent from the depicted person before their likeness can be used in AI-generated obscene content.
- Generative AI focus: The law specifically targets content created using generative artificial intelligence, distinguishing it from traditional image manipulation.
- Obscene material scope: The cause of action is limited to deepfakes used in obscene material, not all deepfakes — political or satire deepfakes are not covered by this statute.
- No criminal penalties: SB 525 is a civil statute. Victims pursue remedies through civil litigation, not criminal prosecution.
Compliance Checklist
If you operate an AI image generation platform or content hosting service accessible in Kansas, you should:
- Implement content filters that detect and block requests to generate sexually explicit images of identifiable individuals without documented consent.
- Update terms of service to explicitly prohibit generating nonconsensual intimate deepfakes and to reference Kansas’s civil cause of action.
- Establish takedown procedures that allow victims to request removal of nonconsensual deepfake content and document the response.
- Maintain records of content moderation actions related to deepfake complaints to demonstrate reasonable care in any future litigation.
How This Compares
Kansas SB 525 takes a civil-remedy approach to deepfakes, contrasting with states like Wyoming (HB 102) and Illinois (720 ILCS 5/11-23.5) that impose criminal penalties. See our deepfake laws by state tracker for a comprehensive comparison. SB 525’s scope is narrower than California’s AB 602, which covers deepfakes in broader contexts beyond obscene material. The civil cause of action model gives victims direct control over enforcement rather than relying on prosecutors.
Effective Date Status
Enacted. As of April 2026, this law is in effect. Victims of nonconsensual AI-generated deepfakes in Kansas can file civil suits under SB 525.
Read the Bill
Author: AI Laws by State. This is not legal advice. For compliance questions specific to your operation, consult an attorney licensed in Kansas.