Committee advances bill to criminalize distribution of forged digital likenesses; removes "humiliate" motive

The House Community Safety Committee on Feb. 13 reported out substitute House Bill 1205 to expand the existing offense of criminal impersonation in the second degree to cover distribution of a forged digital likeness with intent to defraud, harass, threaten or intimidate another person.

The bill’s sponsor and the committee said the measure targets harms from “deep fakes.” Representative Farvar offered and the committee adopted amendment Pat 2 76, which removes the word “humiliate” from the list of covered motives and adds an exemption for interactive computer services, mobile telecommunication service providers, and telecommunication network or broadband providers.

Representative Farvar, who spoke for the amendment, said the word "humiliate" could be interpreted as too vague by a court and asked members for a yes vote. Chair Representative Goodman urged the committee to approve the substitute and said the measure responds to “considerable damage done online with forged digital likenesses.”

The committee adopted Pat 2 76 by voice vote. The committee then voted to report the substitute bill out of committee with a do-pass recommendation; the chair announced that all members present voted in the affirmative and that Representative Simmons was excused.

The bill now moves to the next legislative stage with the amendment incorporated. The committee record does not show further amendments or a floor action in this transcript.

Ending: The committee moved on to other bills after reporting substitute House Bill 1205 out of committee.