In one paragraph
Tennessee's HB 2340 (113th General Assembly) would have let a person whose appearance, action, or speech is altered by synthetic media (made with AI or other digital technology), in a public communication knowingly distributed with intent to mislead the public and damage reputation, sue the publisher for an injunction and damages. Per the official summary, a disclosure that the media was manipulated would be an affirmative defense. Companion to SB 2460. Last action March 19, 2024; the bill never passed and died with the session.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
Not law. Had it passed, anyone publishing deceptive AI-altered media of a real person with intent to mislead and damage reputation could have faced injunctions and damages; a disclosure was a defense.
Key provisions
- Adds a new section to Tenn. Code Ann. Title 47, Chapter 18, Part 1 (the Consumer Protection Act of 1977)
- Would let an individual whose appearance, action, or speech is altered with synthetic media in a public communication knowingly distributed publicly with intent to malign, slander, defame, or otherwise intentionally mislead the public and damage the individual's reputation seek injunctive relief and general and special damages from the publisher
- A court could award a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorneys' fees and costs
- "Synthetic media" would mean a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct intentionally manipulated with artificial intelligence or other digital technology
- Per the official summary, it would be an affirmative defense if the publication includes a disclosure that the media was manipulated with AI or other digital technology and is not an accurate representation of the individual or event depicted
- Last House action: taken off notice for calendar in the Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, March 19, 2024; Senate companion SB 2460 did not pass; the bill died when the session ended
Latest legislative action
Mar 19, 2024. Taken off notice for cal in s/c Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee of Commerce Committee
Sponsors
| Name | Role | District |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Pearson D | Sponsor | HD-086 |
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