(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota legislators warn of technological advances, struggling to keep up with the digital age.
A new bill in Congress would create stiff penalties for those who use artificial intelligence in malicious ways.
The bill targets so-called “deepfakes”. On Wednesday, Minnesota senators criminalized not only those who use deepfakes to hurt political candidates or undermine elections, but also those who share deepfake sexual images of others without their consent. The bill was passed almost unanimously.
“What you see may not be real. This is really scary to think about,” said Rochester Senator Liz Boldon.
The Cambridge Dictionary describes a deepfake as “a video or recording that replaces another person’s face or voice with that of another person in a way that appears to be real.”
“You can put anyone’s face on anyone’s body and make it look like you’re doing something like Senator Boldon described.
Senator Erin May Quaid, who drafted the bill, says 96% of deepfakes on the internet are pornography.
Experts say the scariest part is that it’s nearly impossible to tell if the video is fake.
“It’s progressing faster than we can regulate it, which is also frightening,” added Senator Boldon.
A new bill passed by the Minnesota House and Senate would create criminal penalties for anyone who distributes or posts deepfake sexual images without someone’s consent. The Senate’s version says anyone who distributes deepfakes will face a $10,000 fine and up to five years in prison.
It can be difficult to reach agreement on penalties for such crimes, but Olmsted County District Attorney Mark Ostrem said victims need to consider how they will be affected.
“This is the type of case where the image cannot be put back. ‘ explained Ostrem.
Another aspect of the bill is to prevent deepfakes from undermining political candidates and the integrity of elections.
“This is deception, and it’s dangerous in and of itself at a time when misinformation and disinformation around elections is so prevalent, but it’s kind of a new level,” said Senator Boldon.
The bill is also expected to pass in the House, and Senator Boldon said he expects differences between the two bills to be decided next week before the bill is scheduled to be put on Governor Waltz’s desk.
