In one paragraph
North Carolina's HB 375 would create the Artificial Intelligence and Synthetic Media Act (new Chapter 170). It would regulate deceptive deepfakes in elections, make generated child pornography and non-consensual fabricated intimate images crimes, and require disclosure of generative AI use by regulated occupations. Filed March 11, 2025 and referred to committees March 13, 2025; it has not passed either chamber.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None yet: the bill has not been enacted. Campaigns, advertisers, platforms and regulated professionals using generative AI would face disclosure duties and criminal penalties for deceptive deepfakes.
Key provisions
- Within 90 days before an election, distributing a known deceptive deepfake of a candidate or party without an AI disclosure label would be prohibited; online ads would need tamper-evident provenance data (Sec. 170-2).
- Violations of the election provisions would be a Class 1 misdemeanor, rising to a Class A felony for repeat offenses within five years or intent to cause violence or bodily harm (Sec. 170-4).
- Intentionally creating generated child pornography, and knowingly possessing or intentionally viewing it, would be a Class A felony (Sec. 170-6).
- Knowingly disclosing a fabricated intimate image without consent and causing harm would be a Class 1 misdemeanor; victims could sue for damages, including statutory damages up to $10,000 per defendant (Secs. 170-7, 170-8).
- Regulated occupations would have to give a prominent disclosure when using generative AI with clients; a violation is a Class A misdemeanor (Sec. 170-11).
- Using or prompting generative AI to commit an offense would not be a defense (Sec. 170-13).
- The first edition would take effect December 1, 2025. Referred to the House Commerce and Economic Development, Election Law and Judiciary 2 committees on March 13, 2025.
Latest legislative action
Mar 13, 2025. Ref to the Com on Commerce and Economic Development, if favorable, Election Law, if favorable, Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
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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