Deepfakes
Synthetic audio and video that imitates real people — and the rules being written to control it.
A deepfake is a video, image, or voice clip generated or altered by AI to make it look like a real person said or did something they did not. The technology has become cheaper and more convincing each year.
Why it matters to voters
Deepfakes are already being used in political robocalls, scam calls impersonating relatives, and non-consensual intimate imagery. They erode trust in evidence and complicate everything from journalism to courts.
Recent developments
- 2025More than 20 U.S. states pass laws restricting deepfakes in elections or non-consensual imagery.
Why this mattersWithout federal action, the rules you live under depend on which state you vote in.
- 2026Federal Take It Down Act takes effect, criminalizing non-consensual intimate deepfakes.
Political & policy relevance
Federal bills like the DEFIANCE Act and the No FAKES Act remain in committee. Most enforcement today happens at the state level.
Candidates working on this
Alex Bores · Mallory McMorrow
Further reading
Last updated 2025