View full title
Criminal Offenses - As introduced, prohibits a person or entity from distributing an electoral deepfake within 90 days of an election that the person or entity knows or should have known is a deceptive and fraudulent depiction of a candidate or political party; creates civil penalties and outlines…
In one paragraph
Tennessee's SB 2321 (114th General Assembly) would have barred a person, corporation, committee or other entity, within 90 days of an election, from distributing an electoral deepfake that it knows or should have known deceptively or fraudulently depicts a candidate for state or local office or the candidate's party, unless the media carries a required AI disclosure. County election commissions could impose civil fines of up to $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000. Companion: HB 2214. Not passed before the session ended in April 2026; last action: Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee (February 5, 2026).
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
Not law. If enacted, campaigns, committees, companies and others distributing deceptive deepfakes of state or local candidates within 90 days of an election would have needed the AI disclosure or faced civil fines.
Key provisions
- Prohibits distributing, within 90 days of an election, an electoral deepfake the distributor knows or should have known deceptively or fraudulently depicts a candidate, or a candidate's party, running for state or local office
- Electoral deepfake: a deepfake depicting a candidate or party with intent to injure their reputation or deceive a voter that, to a reasonable person, shows a real person saying or doing something that did not occur or gives a fundamentally different impression than the unaltered original
- Does not apply if the media carries the disclosure "This ___ has been manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence," naming it as an image, video recording, audio recording or combination; visual text must be easily readable and shown for a video's full duration
- A depicted candidate or party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief against publication
- A county election commission may impose fines of up to $1,000, up to $5,000 for a violation intended to cause violence or bodily harm, and up to $10,000 for a violation within five years of a prior one
- Lists exemptions, including radio and television broadcasters (and cable or satellite operators, programmers or producers) that air an electoral deepfake as part of bona fide news programming
- Status: last action Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee on February 5, 2026; companion HB 2214; not passed before the 114th General Assembly ended in April 2026
Latest legislative action
Feb 5, 2026. Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate State and Local Government Committee
Sponsors
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Yarbro | Primary |
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