In one paragraph
South Carolina's H. 4660 (2023-24) would have added Code 7-25-230 barring distribution, within ninety days of an election, of synthetic media the distributor knows or should know is a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake of a candidate on the ballot, unless it carries the disclosure 'This _____ (image, video, or audio) has been manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence.' A first violation would be a misdemeanor (up to 90 days, $500) and a second within five years a felony. Referred to House Judiciary January 9, 2024; it did not pass.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill died in committee and never became law. Had it passed, anyone distributing candidate deepfakes within 90 days of an election would have needed the AI disclosure or faced criminal and civil liability.
Key provisions
- Defines synthetic media (created or manipulated with generative adversarial network techniques or other digital technology to appear realistic but be false) and a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake of a candidate
- Prohibits distribution within ninety days of an election in which the candidate is on the ballot
- Exception if the media carries the AI disclosure, with readability rules for visual media and spoken-disclosure rules (beginning, end, and every two minutes) for audio
- A depicted candidate may seek injunctive or equitable relief and sue the sponsor for general or special damages; prevailing party may get reasonable attorneys' fees and costs
- First violation: misdemeanor, up to 90 days, fine up to $500, or both; second within five years of a prior conviction: felony, up to five years, fine up to $1,000, or both
- Exemptions include bona fide news broadcasters, certain news websites and periodicals, and satire or parody
- Prefiled December 14, 2023; introduced and referred to House Judiciary January 9, 2024; no further action; not passed before the 2023-24 session ended
Latest legislative action
Jan 9, 2024. Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Sponsors
| Name | Role | District |
|---|---|---|
| Jermaine Johnson D | Sponsor | HD-070 |
| Patricia Henegan D | Sponsor | HD-054 |
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