In one paragraph
Arkansas HB 1041 (2025), as engrossed, would have added Ark. Code § 7-6-106 to bar distributing, within 90 days before an election, synthetic media the person knows or should know is a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake of a candidate or party on the ballot, unless it carries a disclosure such as 'This content has been manipulated or artificially generated.' Depicted candidates could seek injunctions, and the State Board of Election Commissioners could fine violators up to $10,000, $5,000 or $1,000 depending on the case. It died in the House committee at sine die adjournment on May 5, 2025.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
No duties for businesses because the bill died. Had it passed, campaigns, consultants and publishers would have had to label or avoid election deepfakes in the 90 days before an election.
Key provisions
- Defines 'deceptive and fraudulent deepfake' as synthetic media that inaccurately alters a candidate's or party's speech, conduct, image or likeness with intent to injure reputation or deceive a voter
- Within 90 days of an election, no person may distribute such media they know or should know is a deepfake, unless it carries the required disclosure (§ 7-6-106(b))
- Disclosure rules for visual and audio-only media; audio disclosures at the beginning and end, repeated at two-minute intervals in audio longer than two minutes
- A depicted candidate could seek injunctive relief within two years of the election in which the deepfake was first used; the State Board of Election Commissioners could impose up to $10,000 (within five years of a prior conviction), $5,000 (intent to cause violence or bodily harm) or $1,000 otherwise (§ 7-6-106(c))
- Exceptions for platforms and providers carrying others' content, paid-ad carriers, media buyers, bona fide news with an authenticity disclaimer, and satire or parody (§ 7-6-106(d))
- Amended three times in the House (Jan 16, Feb 27 and Mar 19, 2025); died in committee May 5, 2025; no effective date in the text
Latest legislative action
May 5, 2025. Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
Sponsors (showing 5 of 18)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Crowell | Primary |
| Gonzales | Primary |
| J. Bryant | Primary |
| Jett | Primary |
| Joint Budget Committee | Primary |
Amendments (3)
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House Amendment H1 Not adopted 2025-01-15
-
House Amendment H2 Not adopted 2025-02-26
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House Amendment H3 Not adopted 2025-03-18
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error