Committee advances bill making creators responsible for AI-generated political or news content

The Senate Committee on Technology and Telecommunications on Monday approved Senate Bill 8 94, a measure that would require creators of political advertisements and news stories that use artificial intelligence to be responsible for the veracity of that content.

Senator Coleman, who presented the bill, told the committee that media outlets already are responsible for their products and that the bill “requires the original content provider or the creator of political ads and news stories to be responsible for the rap for veracity of their messaging.” Coleman emphasized concerns about AI deepfakes and said, “The only way to eliminate deep fake content is to stop it at its origin, which is the content provider.”

The chair allowed testimony from Vance Harrison of the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters and the Oklahoma Press Association; Harrison said his organizations were the impetus for the bill and indicated the measure targets media companies. Several senators asked whether the bill would reach individuals who post memes online; Harrison and the sponsor said the intent was focused on media companies, though the bill’s language also refers to “person or entity” and could apply more broadly.

Senator Gillespie said policing individual posts could be difficult and said he would vote no. After committee debate the clerk recorded five ayes and two nays; the committee declared SB 8 94 passed and will advance for further consideration.

Committee members asked sponsors to continue refining the bill’s scope and to clarify enforcement and exceptions such as satire and parody, which the bill exempts.