NE LB615: Prohibit distributing deepfakes under the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act

In one paragraph

Not law. Nebraska LB615, introduced by Senator John Cavanaugh, would have barred distributing a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake of a candidate or party within 90 days before an election, if the distributor knew or should have known what it was. A disclaimer saying the media was manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence would have made the ban inapplicable, and a depicted candidate could have sought an injunction. Indefinitely postponed April 17, 2026.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None: the bill died and never became law. It would have applied to anyone distributing political deepfakes within 90 days of an election.

Key provisions

1. 1Would have defined synthetic media as a realistic but false image, audio or video made or manipulated with generative adversarial networks or other digital technology
2. 2Would have barred distributing a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake of a candidate or party within 90 days before an election, if the distributor knew or should have known it was one (Sec. 2)
3. 3Disclaimer safe harbor: 'This (Image/Video/Audio) has been manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence', shown throughout a video or spoken at the start and end of audio (every two minutes if longer than two minutes)
4. 4Remedy: the depicted candidate could seek injunctive or other equitable relief to stop publication; the section sets no criminal penalty, fine or damages (Sec. 2(4))
5. 5Exceptions for bona fide news coverage by broadcasters, federally required candidate ads, news websites and periodicals with a clear statement, and satire or parody
6. 6Referred to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee; indefinitely postponed April 17, 2026; not enacted; no effective date stated in the text

Latest legislative action

Apr 17, 2026. Indefinitely postponed

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