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SB33

Alaska SB 33: Rules for Synthetic Media in Lawsuits and Elections

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This law treats defamation claims involving synthetic media as serious offenses that assume harm occurred, bans using such media to influence elections unless clearly labeled or satirical, and allows harmed individuals to sue creators and distributors.

What it does

  • Treats lawsuits about defamation caused by synthetic media as 'defamation per se,' meaning the law assumes damage happened without needing extra proof of harm.
  • Bans knowingly using synthetic media in election communications with the intent to influence an election result, unless it is satire or parody.
  • Allows harmed individuals to sue for money damages, legal fees, and court orders to stop fake content from being published.
  • Provides a defense against lawsuits if the communication includes a clear disclosure statement saying 'This (image/video/audio) has been manipulated' that meets specific visibility requirements.

Who it affects

  • People who create or pay for political messages containing realistic but false AI-generated images, audio, or video.
  • Individuals whose reputation is harmed by fake media used to influence an election.
  • Internet service providers and broadcasters that host content created by others are generally protected from liability unless they remove a required disclosure statement with intent to influence an election.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill takes effect immediately upon passage, but no specific calendar date is listed in this text.
  • Synthetic media does not include images or recordings minimally edited by AI if the change does not materially alter how a reasonable person perceives the meaning.

Plain language

Terms to know

Synthetic Media
An image, audio recording, or video of a person's appearance, speech, or conduct made realistic but false using artificial intelligence in a way that creates a different understanding than the original.
Electioneering Communication
A message identifying a candidate shared with voters that can only reasonably be interpreted as asking people to vote for or against them.
Defamation Per Se
A type of false statement so harmful by its nature that the law assumes damage occurred without needing extra proof.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

SYNTHETIC MEDIA: LIABILITY; ELECTIONS An Act relating to defamation claims based on the use of synthetic media; relating to the use of synthetic media in electioneering communications; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) Minutes (SSTA)Min
  2. (S) Heard & HeldText
  3. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  4. (S) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS35
  5. (S) STA, JUD35
  6. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS35
  7. (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/2535