Proposed bill to eliminate AI used in political campaign advertisements

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah lawmaker wants to put regulations around using AI in political campaign advertisements. The bill would create laws for using AI in political campaign ads. 

Senate President Stuart Adams joins us at 7:45 a.m. to discuss what’s ahead for the legislative session!
 

Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, is sponsoring SB 131 and says the purpose of the bill is to ensure the public isn’t receiving misinformation.

“We want to make sure people are reporting what actually happened and not what they want people to believe happened,” Harper told KSL NewsRadio

Although Utah has not had any issues with AI advertisements yet, he said several other states, including California and Wisconsin, have already had issues with people using AI to doctor videos of their opponents in an election. 

Under this bill, political candidates would be required to either disclose when they use AI in advertisements or not use it at all. If passed and signed into law, violators could be charged up to a felony and pay a fine upwards of $1,000. 

“With everything that’s coming out this election year and so many past issues coming out and interesting personalities, it’s important to make sure what is being presented is accurate,” Harper says. 

The bill’s first committee hearing will take place this afternoon. If passed, it would still need approval from the full Senate, House and governor. 

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