Bill > S06278

This bill establishes new legal protections against the malicious creation and distribution of "deep fakes," which are digitally altered images that incorporate a person's face or body part onto another image depicting pornographic, lewd, or graphically violent content without their explicit consent. The legislation creates two key mechanisms to address this issue: first, it defines aggravated harassment through electronic or digital communication as a class A misdemeanor, making it a crime to produce, distribute, publish, or broadcast such manipulated images with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten, or alarm another person. Second, the bill provides a private right of action, allowing individuals depicted in such images to sue those who disseminate them, with potential remedies including injunctive relief, punitive and compensatory damages, court costs, and attorney's fees. The law applies to various digital platforms and media types, including printed materials, advertisements, movies, videos, communications, and computer images. Importantly, the bill specifies that the cause of action does not require a prior criminal complaint and is intended to protect individuals from non-consensual, harmful digital manipulations that could cause significant personal and professional damage.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6278