Bill > SF714

This bill establishes a new criminal offense in Minnesota law called "digital picture and recording misrepresentation," which occurs when a person intentionally alters a digital image or recording of another person or owned by another person without their consent, with the specific intent to make recipients believe the subject person authorized the altered media, and with the further intent to harm, defraud, or maliciously misrepresent the subject person, an event they attended, or their property. The act of creating such deliberately misleading digital content would be classified as a gross misdemeanor, which typically carries potential penalties including up to one year in jail and/or a significant fine. The law is designed to address the growing problem of digital manipulation, such as deepfakes or other fraudulent media alterations, and would become effective on August 1, 2025, applying to crimes committed on or after that date. By criminalizing intentional digital misrepresentation, the bill aims to protect individuals from potential reputational damage, emotional harm, or fraudulent uses of their image or likeness without their permission.

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https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0714&ssn=0&y=2025