Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bipartisan bill last week that classifies malicious deepfakes as digital forgeries, making non-consensual digital impersonation a crime. The law assigns a first-degree misdemeanor for general violations, and a third-degree felony for cases involving fraudulent intent.
Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery), the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the law balances law enforcement powers with protections for First Amendment rights, parody, and satire. The legislation follows an earlier deepfake pornography ban that enabled the state’s first AI-related sexual abuse charges in April.
Attorney General Dave Sunday praised the new law, citing the growing threat of AI-generated scams and political disinformation. Pennycuick warned that deepfakes increasingly target vulnerable populations and threaten public trust, citing a Biden impersonation incident in the 2024 primaries.
The bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers. Lawmakers nationwide have introduced over 38 bills related to deepfake regulation in 2025, as concern over AI misuse continues to rise. Pennsylvania may soon vote on an additional bill banning deepfakes in political campaigns to safeguard election integrity.
Sources:
News From The States — MBFC Rating
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