New Pennsylvania Law Targets Fraudulent AI Voice Impersonations.

The list of states with laws on the books barring the use of generative AI impersonations has grown by one, as Pennsylvania has adopted new protections against deepfakes. Under state law, making a non-consensual digital impersonation is now a misdemeanor. And the use of one with fraudulent intent is now a felony. The new law (SB 649) builds on a recent law targeting AI-generated child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro last year.

“We are leading on AI — and taking advantage of the economic and technological benefits that come with it,” Shapiro said. “But we’re also taking a thoughtful, proactive approach to protecting Pennsylvanians.”

The new law doesn’t include any exemptions for broadcast use, although the main focus of the effort is to give prosecutors another tool when they go after AI scams and financial exploitation attempts, like faking a grandchild’s voice to trick older adults into sending money.

“With the Governor’s signature, we’re highlighting the need for responsible regulation on a technology that is poised to be more accessible in our daily lives in the near future,” said Sen. John Kane, one of the bill’s sponsors. “Progress is good, but protecting Pennsylvanians from the unintended consequences of this tech is one of my top priorities.”

There is a growing pushback against the use of generative AI-created voices and images. State legislatures adopted 80 laws last year, and by one tally, there have been more than three-dozen additional proposals introduced this year in 18 states. Earlier this month, New York passed a new law requiring the disclosure of the use of “synthetic performers.” But in an eleventh-hour move, state lawmakers removed audio-only advertising from the law but kept TV ads as part of the bill. The labor union SAG-AFTRA is pushing other states to adopt similar laws to protect talent’s voice and image.

The National Association of Broadcasters says it doesn’t oppose the state laws. However, the group told Inside Radio earlier this month that radio and TV stations should not be dragged into an enforcement role. Spokeswoman Grace Whaley said that forcing stations to pre-screen programming or place AI disclosures on ads or other content would be a “near-impossible task.” NAB instead believes the duty should fall on the content’s creator or sponsor.