Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act

HB 5548 Text

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026
REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 5548
By Delegates Kimble, T. Howell, and Mazzocchi
[Introduced February 16, 2026; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new article, designated §61-3F-1, §61-3F-2, §61-3F-3, §61-3F-4, §61-3F-5, §61-3F-6, and §61-3F-7, relating to creating the Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act; providing for definitions; explaining manner of violation; providing for construction, safe harbor, and severability; providing for a penalty; creating a title; and allowing injunctive relief.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 3F. STOP NON-CONSENSUAL DISTRIBUTION OF INTIMATE DEEP FAKE MEDIA ACT.

§61-3F-1. Definitions.

(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings given.
(b) "Deep fake" means any visual media created, altered, or otherwise manipulated in a manner that would falsely appear to a reasonable observer to be an authentic record of a natural person's speech, conduct, or likeness;
(1) That is so realistic that a reasonable person would believe it depicts speech or conduct of an individual who did not in fact engage in such speech or conduct; and
(2) The production of which was substantially dependent upon technical means, rather than the ability of another individual to physically or verbally impersonate such individual.
(c) "Depicted individual" means an individual in a deep fake who appears to be engaging in speech or conduct in which the individual did not engage.
(d) "Distribute" means to publish or disseminate, including but not limited to: advertising, exhibiting, exchanging, promoting, or selling deep fake material.
(e) "Natural person" means a human being with legal personality as distinguished from a person created by digital means or by operation of law.
(f) "Non-consensual" means without the voluntary agreement of the natural person whose face is involved.
(g) "Sexual conduct" means actual or simulated sexual intercourse, outercourse, masturbation, bestiality, or sexual sadism.

§61-3F-2. Prohibitions.

(a) A person commits the unlawful dissemination or sale of images of another if the person intentionally or knowingly distributes a deep fake with the face of a natural person:
(1) Depicting that person engaging in sexual conduct that the actual person did not actually engage in;
(2) With intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, or to damage the reputation of the natural person depicted; and
(3) Where the distributor knows or has reason to know that the distribution was not consented to by the natural person whose face is depicted in the deep fake.
(b) Nothing in this article shall be construed to impose liability on an interactive computer service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 230(f), for information provided by another information content provider.
(c) The provisions of this article shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute.

§61-3F-3. Construction; safe harbor.

(a) "Deep fake" shall not be interpreted to include any constitutionally protected speech, including works of political, artistic, or newsworthy value, including commentary, criticism, satire, or parody.
(b) It shall not be a violation of this article to publish digitally manipulated media that includes a clear disclosure that would cause a reasonable person to understand that the visual media is not a record of a real event.

§61-3F-4. Severability.

If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions of this article and the application of such provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

§61-3F-5. Penalty.

A person convicted of violating §61-3F-2 may be sentenced as follows:
(1) If the person commits the violation within five years of one or more prior convictions under this section, to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both fined and confined;
(2) If the person commits the violation with the intent to cause violence or bodily harm, to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both fined and confined; or
(3) In other cases, to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both fined and confined.

§61-3F-6. Injunctive relief.

A cause of action for injunctive relief may be maintained against any person who is reasonably believed to be about to violate or who is in the course of violating this section by:
(1) The Attorney General;
(2) A county prosecutor;
(3) The depicted individual; or
(4) A natural person who is injured or likely to be injured by dissemination.

§61-3F-7. Title.

This act shall be known and cited as the "Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act."

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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