AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine lawmakers are considering a bill banning the use of “deepfake” video technology in the state’s political advertising.
A Democratic lawmaker told the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday that technological advancements could be used to undermine the state’s political process and the public’s trust, the Portland Press Herald reported.
“It’s not hard to imagine how destructive this technology could be in an election,” the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Sen. Rebecca Millett, of Cape Elizabeth, said.
The use of deepfake video continues to be a growing concern for federal policymakers, especially prominent politicians who have been smeared by its use on social media.
The videos are created with digitized images, using a form of artificial intelligence known as deep learning. The technology can be used to produce videos, still images or audio that’s highly convincing and often impossible to identify as fake.
Millet’s bill would prohibit publication and distribution of deepfake content of a candidate within 60 days of an election. The proposal would also allow the targeted candidate to seek a court order to block publication of the content as well as pursue civil action against whomever published or distributed it.
But some critics believe the bill could be a threat to free speech. The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine and the Maine Heritage Policy Center submitted written testimony opposing the legislation.
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