VA HB697: Synthetic media; use in furtherance of crimes involving fraud, etc., report.

In one paragraph

Virginia's HB 697 (2024 Regular Session) would have made it a Class 1 misdemeanor to use synthetic media to commit a criminal offense involving fraud, let the person depicted sue for actual damages and attorney fees, and had the Attorney General convene a work group on deepfake enforcement. It passed the House 98-0 but was continued to 2025 in Senate committee on February 19, 2024; it failed.

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

What it means for business

None: the bill died without passing and never became law. Businesses faced no new duties; it would have created criminal and civil exposure for fraudulent use of synthetic media.

Key provisions

1. 1Would extend defamation, slander and libel provisions to include synthetic media
2. 2Using synthetic media for the purpose of committing an offense involving fraud would be a Class 1 misdemeanor, separate from the underlying offense
3. 3The individual depicted could bring a civil action for actual damages, reasonable attorney fees and other appropriate relief
4. 4The Attorney General would convene a work group on enforcement of laws on synthetic media and deepfakes in fraud
5. 5Passed the House by block vote (98-Y 0-N) on February 8, 2024
6. 6Continued to 2025 in Senate Courts of Justice (11-Y 2-N) on February 19, 2024; status Failed

Latest legislative action

Feb 19, 2024. Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (11-Y 2-N)

Sponsors

Roll call votes (showing 3 of 4)

Amendments (2)

• Substitute for HB697 Courts of Justice, Criminal Not adopted 2024-01-31
• Substitute for HB697 Courts of Justice, Criminal Adopted 2024-01-31

Related and companion bills

• Virginia SB571Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty.