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Committee hears about proposed bill targeting synthetic media in political communication; staff offer judiciary resources
Summary
Senate and congressional staff discussed a proposed federal bill (Senate bill no. 23 referenced in the meeting) that would penalize intentional use of synthetic media in election-related communications; staff offered to provide the committee with bill text and to connect state officials with judiciary experts.
Members of the Senate Committee on Government Operations discussed the scope of proposed federal action on synthetic media and deepfakes during a Feb. 13 briefing with delegation staff.
"We have a bill we've written, and I'm happy to send that to you to, like, depend on you can review the scope of that and see where we're at," said Ryan McClellan, senior adviser for Senator Peter Welch, describing a draft federal measure the committee had asked about. McClellan said the proposal targets deliberate use of synthetic audio and video to influence elections and likened the reporting requirements to existing Federal Election Commission disclosures.
Senator Clarkson noted the committee's bill is numbered Senate bill 23 and asked whether the approach is a ban or a disclosure requirement. Senator Moynihan asked for clarification: "So it is a ban, not a disclosure that the senator is putting forward on the —?" McClellan and other staff described ongoing work in judiciary committees and suggested they would arrange conversations with committee lawyers to review legal scope and exceptions (for broadcasters or platforms).
Delegation staff said the proposal is intended to deter malicious uses of synthetic media in political communications and that they are coordinating with judiciary staff to refine legal language. Staff did not say the bill is final; they offered to share draft text and to follow up with the committee's staff.
No vote or formal endorsement occurred during the hearing.
