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VA SB571: Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty.

Dead/Failed Virginia · 2024 session

Last verified Oct 11, 2026 · official bill text

SB571 · where it stands

This bill did not become law (dead/failed) · last action Feb 12, 2024.

What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

Virginia's SB 571 (2024 Regular Session) would have extended defamation, slander and libel provisions to synthetic media and made it a Class 1 misdemeanor to generate, create or use deceptive audio or visual media to commit a fraud offense, with a rebuttable presumption, a civil action for the person depicted and an Attorney General work group. Continued to 2025 in committee on February 12, 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. It would have created criminal and civil exposure for using deepfakes in fraud; no direct duties on businesses.

Key provisions

  1. Would amend §§ 8.01-45, 8.01-46 and 18.2-417 and add § 18.2-213.3
  2. "Synthetic media": an image, audio or video of a person's appearance, speech or conduct created or intentionally manipulated to create a realistic but false depiction
  3. Class 1 misdemeanor to generate, create or use deceptive audio or visual media for the purpose of committing a criminal offense involving fraud
  4. Rebuttable presumption of that purpose if the media is later used in a plan or course of conduct to commit the offense
  5. The individual depicted could sue for actual damages, reasonable attorney fees and other relief
  6. Attorney General to convene a work group on enforcement; continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice on February 12, 2024; status Failed

Latest legislative action

Feb 12, 2024. Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)

Sponsors

NameRoleDistrict
D Sponsor SD-030
D Sponsor SD-033

Roll call votes

S Senate: Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N) Feb 12, 2024

14 yea0 nayPassed

Amendments (1)

  • Substitute for SB571 for S-Courts of Justice Not adopted 2024-02-12

Related and companion bills

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI DeepfakesAI Liability

Affected industries

TechnologyFinance

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

Related AI laws in Virginia

All Virginia bills →
HB697 Synthetic media; use in furtherance of crimes involving fraud, etc., report. SB1736 Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another; penalty. HB2678 Unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another; penalty. HB2124 Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause. SB1053 Synthetic digital content; definition, penalty, report, effective clause. SJR14 Artificial intelligence; Joint Commission on Technology and Science to study adv

Same topic in other states

Montana HB513 Revise laws related to use of name, voice, and likeness of individuals and penal Utah SB0256 Identity Protection Modifications Tennessee HB2091 AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 1 and Title Texas SB2373 Relating to financial exploitation or financial abuse using artificially generat Illinois HB2123 DIGITAL FORGERIES ACT Louisiana HB178 Provides for the continuous revision of the Code of Civil Procedure